In light of the facts below, we the people of Stanly County petition the Stanly County Board of Education to immediately vote on a motion to make masks optional in all Stanly County Schools both for the remainder of this summer and upcoming 2021-22 school year.

• At a joint press conference on June 2 with Gov. Cooper and Health Secretary Mandy Cohen, Cohen said "as of right now, we want to be sure that we are protecting our students and making sure that those who are unvaccinated are wearing masks, so that is what we will continue to do (in schools)."
• Masks are under emergency use authorization by the FDA, and therefore it is a violation of federal law and the 14th amendment to require their use.
• According to OSHA and any broad meta-analysis of actual mask use since the pandemic began, masks do not prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Masks become germ-infested and unhealthy in just 5 hours of wear.
• NC children under 18 have a COVID survival rate of 99.998% (better than the flu) and therefore have no reason to fear the virus.
• Masks are a barrier to learning and foster a dehumanizing environment for teachers and students that negatively impacts mental health.