Enough is enough! We the parents and guardians are petitioning the Wilson Central School District for our right to choose whether our children wear face masks in school. We choose not to accept any Covid mandates placed on our children in order for them to attend school.

While the CDC has admitted that "For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low," our children continue to be burdened by Covid mandates. Face masks have been proven to be ineffective as further evidenced by the lack of major outbreaks across NYS, despite summer schools and camps having mask optional policies. Schools are not places of high transmission. Children are not super spreaders.

In fact, according to guidance provided by NYS, the majority of students should not even be required to wear face masks. In the Reopening Guidance issued by NYS in 2020, face coverings are prohibited on students "where such covering would impair their health or mental health, or where such covering would present a challenge, distraction, or obstruction to education services and instruction." It is well established that face masks negatively effect children's mental health, are a distraction and an obstruction to their learning.

The burden of Covid mandates outweigh the risk to children. Even statistics from NYS confirm that "Children have been significantly less affected by COVID-19, as only 1 percent of New Yorkers who have been hospitalized were under 20 years old." Further, the risk of a child dying from Covid is “one in a million” based on former CDC director Dr. Redfield’s calculations. Dr. Redfield also stated that influenza deaths of school age children are "five to 10 times greater [than Covid-19 deaths].”

We as parents and guardians should have the right to decide what we feel is best for our children, including whether they wear a face mask in school or eventually receive a Covid vaccine. It is time we restore normalcy to our children and eliminate all hinderances to their learning. It is time to make face masks optional in schools. We demand the right to make decisions for our children.