We are asking for your support for our request of “required face masks for all teachers and staff, and students, regardless of vaccine status” by Zionsville Community Schools before the coronavirus Delta variants start to explode. Currently, only students younger than 12 years old are required to wear masks. Many teachers and staff, who have indoor, long hours and close contact with students, do not wear masks. We ask our schools to mandate teachers and staff to wear masks to protect our students - a most susceptible and vulnerable group who are too young to be vaccinated. By require masking in schools, Zionsville Community Schools will have a better chance of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 variants amongst the students, teachers, and staff members. We implore that the district takes proactive actions by not waiting until confirmed cases surge and by requiring masking.

The CDC already reserved courses and said everyone, including vaccinated people, should wear masks in schools (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html). While it is still a recommendation, the updated guidline for “fully vaccinated people” reflects the rapid increase in infections, transmission, and hospitalizations stemming from the spread of the delta variant, including among vaccinated individuals. Vaccinate does NOT prevent the spreading of delta variant. Fully vaccinated people made up 74% of infections in the most recent Massachusetts covid outbreak. The spreading among teachers and students are, therefore, inevitable if teachers and staff do not wear masks in school. The students younger than 12 years old do not have the vaccine to protect them and are most vulnerable, especially given that the short-term and long-term health thread to the younger children of delta variant remains unknown. The best way to protect our students is to have the teachers and staff wear masks. The US covid cases are surging again. At this crucial moment, we pledge that our school community to requires teachers, staff, and all students to wear masks. It is of utmost importance that we ensure our children and teachers/staff remain safe and healthy by taking timely and proactive preventative actions to create and maintain a safe environment. Our school community deserves all practical and tangible measures taken proactively to prevent any possibility of community spread. Please sign this petition and make the “required masking rule” available ASAP, instead of waiting for the case explosion!