The 2020-2021 school year has challenged Central Bucks School District (CBSD), and all school districts across the country, in previously unforeseen ways. As the COVID-19 pandemic shifts and changes, we understand that our school district must evolve to meet student and staff needs for safety and continued top-notch education.
Unfortunately, this year has also brought out extremism, partisan politics, anti-science sentiment, and even defamatory & intimidating threats and accusations from certain community members against CBSD educators, administration, and school board members. These extreme opinions and behaviors have been amplified over and over through social media, newspaper articles, TV appearances and podcasts. Extremists in our community have often been given a platform at school board meetings, railing at the district with demands to remove masks, end social distancing and return to "normal." While we certainly acknowledge the rights of all stakeholders to their own opinions and free speech, we are highly concerned with the narrative that is being promoted that "a masked child is an abused child." This is an offensive and downright inaccurate claim. The assertion that CBSD parents and educators have been abusing our children by following medically-supported safety protocols during this pandemic year is repugnant and dangerous. We do not purport to know all of the complicated factors that have contributed to the board's decisions this year, but we are concerned about recent changes to the board and upcoming decision-making. These extremist viewpoints should not be considered while making decisions about health and safety in CBSD.
We, the undersigned, want to make it clear that we are caring parents/caregivers following sensible, balanced approaches to the health and safety of our children. We are the quieter majority, and our voices count. We may not have been appearing on TV or yelling at school board meetings, but we care about this district, our kids, our educators and our community. We want our CBSD school board to follow the facts and scientific recommendations of both local and national medical experts, with rationality and common sense. As decisions are made for the end of this school year and the beginning of 2021-2022, we ask that extremism and partisan politics take a backseat to the best interest of our children.
Please consider the following:
5/26/21- American Academy of Pediatrics- "In updated face mask guidance, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the continued use of a well-fitted face mask for children and teens who are age 2 years and older and not yet fully vaccinated... In addition to protecting the child, the use of face masks significantly reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections in schools and other community settings... Schools, child care programs, and camps are encouraged to continue to support the use of face masks for children and staff until the vaccine is available for younger age groups and vaccinations within the pediatric population are high enough to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2."
5/20/21- American Academy of Pediatrics State-Level Data Report- "39,701 new child COVID-19 cases were reported the past week from 5/13/21-5/20/21 (3,903,706 to 3,943,407) and children represented 19.8% of the new weekly cases... Over two weeks, 5/6/21-5/20/21, there was a 2% increase in the cumulated number of child COVID-19 cases."
5/15/21- Centers for Disease Control- "CDC recommends schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year... All schools should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing."
We, the undersigned, seek sensible leadership within the CBSD school board as these important decisions are being made. Our community has suffered enough divisiveness and inaccurate assertions. Allow us a "place at the table" as we partner with our district, board, administration and educators to make sane and rational decisions for our precious children.
*SIGNERS, PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY DONATIONS MADE BENEFIT iPetition ONLY, and not any CBSD-based group or person. This is a free service for online petitions and they seek donations, but that is completely voluntary. Thank you!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
May 31, 2021
May 30, 2021
i honestly didnt think we would hit this mark so fast but seeing all this support is wild. it feels like people are finally realizing we need a change in how things are being handled around here. lets keep this energy going because we really have a shot at fixing this.
Reached 100 supporters
May 30, 2021
May 29, 2021
we are almost at 100 signatures so lets keep this momentum going. if you can send this link to a few people today we might hit that mark by tonight.
May 28, 2021
we are almost at 500 signatures and i want to keep this momentum going so they finally pay attention. please send the link to a few people today because we really need to drive this forward before the next board meeting.
110 Comments
These stunts being pulled are deplorable. With two weeks left of the school year? Child abuse for a kid to wear a mask? This behavior does not represent me or my family or any family that I know.
I am only a CBSD parent for 11 more days but my child has been in CBSD since kindergarten. Never, in the last 13 years, have I seen the school District so fragmented and politicized. I have great concerns for future leadership.
I am a healthcare employee and we continue to wear masks and follow the science. If CBSD does not follow the science and listen to appropriate protocol from the CDC etc, they are putting our children and their loved ones at risk.
As a family to one of the most vulnerable students in CB, who cannot yet be vaccinated, we ask that you think of those in her MDS class as you make these decisions regarding masks. It is imperative to their health and well-being and they are the voiceless, depending on all of us to care for them.
As a parent of a child who recently battled a life threatening illness and required a stem cell transplant to survive, the requirement for all students to wear masks and maintain covid mitigation procedures are a necessity to my children’s health and safety, not an option.
CBSD resident with 5 grandkids in district (4 elementary and 1 middle school)
Kids don't die from COVID, but a perfectly healthy child can get long COVID—even after being asymptomatic—and the long-term effects are really difficult to manage. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7927578/ I know this firsthand because of my son (no pre-existing HCs). He's 6—and still recovering 15 months later.
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The 2020-2021 school year has challenged Central Bucks School District (CBSD), and all school districts across the country, in previously unforeseen ways. As the COVID-19 pandemic shifts and changes, we understand that our school district must evolve to meet student and staff needs for safety and continued top-notch education.
Unfortunately, this year has also brought out extremism, partisan politics, anti-science sentiment, and even defamatory & intimidating threats and accusations from certain community members against CBSD educators, administration, and school board members. These extreme opinions and behaviors have been amplified over and over through social media, newspaper articles, TV appearances and podcasts. Extremists in our community have often been given a platform at school board meetings, railing at the district with demands to remove masks, end social distancing and return to "normal." While we certainly acknowledge the rights of all stakeholders to their own opinions and free speech, we are highly concerned with the narrative that is being promoted that "a masked child is an abused child." This is an offensive and downright inaccurate claim. The assertion that CBSD parents and educators have been abusing our children by following medically-supported safety protocols during this pandemic year is repugnant and dangerous. We do not purport to know all of the complicated factors that have contributed to the board's decisions this year, but we are concerned about recent changes to the board and upcoming decision-making. These extremist viewpoints should not be considered while making decisions about health and safety in CBSD.
We, the undersigned, want to make it clear that we are caring parents/caregivers following sensible, balanced approaches to the health and safety of our children. We are the quieter majority, and our voices count. We may not have been appearing on TV or yelling at school board meetings, but we care about this district, our kids, our educators and our community. We want our CBSD school board to follow the facts and scientific recommendations of both local and national medical experts, with rationality and common sense. As decisions are made for the end of this school year and the beginning of 2021-2022, we ask that extremism and partisan politics take a backseat to the best interest of our children.
Please consider the following:
5/26/21- American Academy of Pediatrics- "In updated face mask guidance, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the continued use of a well-fitted face mask for children and teens who are age 2 years and older and not yet fully vaccinated... In addition to protecting the child, the use of face masks significantly reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections in schools and other community settings... Schools, child care programs, and camps are encouraged to continue to support the use of face masks for children and staff until the vaccine is available for younger age groups and vaccinations within the pediatric population are high enough to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2."
5/20/21- American Academy of Pediatrics State-Level Data Report- "39,701 new child COVID-19 cases were reported the past week from 5/13/21-5/20/21 (3,903,706 to 3,943,407) and children represented 19.8% of the new weekly cases... Over two weeks, 5/6/21-5/20/21, there was a 2% increase in the cumulated number of child COVID-19 cases."
5/15/21- Centers for Disease Control- "CDC recommends schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year... All schools should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing."
We, the undersigned, seek sensible leadership within the CBSD school board as these important decisions are being made. Our community has suffered enough divisiveness and inaccurate assertions. Allow us a "place at the table" as we partner with our district, board, administration and educators to make sane and rational decisions for our precious children.
*SIGNERS, PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY DONATIONS MADE BENEFIT iPetition ONLY, and not any CBSD-based group or person. This is a free service for online petitions and they seek donations, but that is completely voluntary. Thank you!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
May 31, 2021
May 30, 2021
i honestly didnt think we would hit this mark so fast but seeing all this support is wild. it feels like people are finally realizing we need a change in how things are being handled around here. lets keep this energy going because we really have a shot at fixing this.
Reached 100 supporters
May 30, 2021
May 29, 2021
we are almost at 100 signatures so lets keep this momentum going. if you can send this link to a few people today we might hit that mark by tonight.
May 28, 2021
we are almost at 500 signatures and i want to keep this momentum going so they finally pay attention. please send the link to a few people today because we really need to drive this forward before the next board meeting.
110 Comments
misinformation and fear-mongering have no place in positions of school board leadership. We must strive to better represent all of our district’s students through factual information and transparency in leadership.
These stunts being pulled are deplorable. With two weeks left of the school year? Child abuse for a kid to wear a mask? This behavior does not represent me or my family or any family that I know.
I am only a CBSD parent for 11 more days but my child has been in CBSD since kindergarten. Never, in the last 13 years, have I seen the school District so fragmented and politicized. I have great concerns for future leadership.
I am a healthcare employee and we continue to wear masks and follow the science. If CBSD does not follow the science and listen to appropriate protocol from the CDC etc, they are putting our children and their loved ones at risk.
As a family to one of the most vulnerable students in CB, who cannot yet be vaccinated, we ask that you think of those in her MDS class as you make these decisions regarding masks. It is imperative to their health and well-being and they are the voiceless, depending on all of us to care for them.
As a parent of a child who recently battled a life threatening illness and required a stem cell transplant to survive, the requirement for all students to wear masks and maintain covid mitigation procedures are a necessity to my children’s health and safety, not an option.
CBSD resident with 5 grandkids in district (4 elementary and 1 middle school)
Kids don't die from COVID, but a perfectly healthy child can get long COVID—even after being asymptomatic—and the long-term effects are really difficult to manage. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7927578/ I know this firsthand because of my son (no pre-existing HCs). He's 6—and still recovering 15 months later.
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misinformation and fear-mongering have no place in positions of school board leadership. We must strive to better represent all of our district’s students through factual information and transparency in leadership.