One thing that all FNSB students have in common is that they don't live alone.
The FNSB School Board will be discussing removing universal masking. Here is the recommendation that I had received online:
"Hey Fairbanks. Word is that the school board has received by a ratio of 2:1 MANY letters in support of REMOVING the mask mandate at the December 7 regular meeting AND that administration will propose an end to universal masking on January 4.
I implore you to write a letter to the school board and Superintendent Melin ASAP. Let the school board know that we need to continue universal masking to keep kids healthy and in school.
School Board: schoolboard@k12northstar.org
Superintendent Melin: karen.melin@k12northstar.org
Below is a sample letter, if you you need guidance.
Subject: Continue Universal Masking Dear School Board Members and Superintendent Melin, My goal is to keep children in school. Toward that end I am seeking a medically informed path forward regarding universal masking. Any decision to change the current mandate should be based on lower case counts, continued improved hospital capacity, and higher vaccination rates. Past experience has shown that we can expect a surge in cases connected with holiday travel and gatherings. Also of concern is a new wave of infection moving across the country. Clearly this is not the time to rescind the mandate. Sincerely,"
As I mentioned in my previous episode, Covid-19 is still extremely high in our area. Not only that, but families of color are at more risk to experience having someone hospitalized or dying. FNSB has a diverse range of students including students outside of the K-12 age range as they provide classes for children who themselves are high risk because of disabilities such as Down Syndrome.
Masking is still recommended indoors for everyone whether they are vaccinated or not by medical professionals. The CDC recommends masking if you are "in an area of substantial or high transmission." FNSB is in the red zone currently and has been for a while. Dr. Anne Zink recommends the same.
The removal of universal masking from our school district could increase the number of cases locally, make our hospital return to emergency statuses that makes medical professionals choose which patients to help, and cause the death of more family members of students as well as employees, which will in turn impact the education of students.
Lately, I have been wondering about the lawsuits this decision could bring as well. Our schools are already struggling financially, unable to pay our teachers an adequate wage for raising our future lawyers, doctors, nurses, construction workers, bankers, and more. I'm not a lawyer though, so I am not sure if any lawsuit would be covered by the district or by the borough, so I didn't include that in my personal email. (For those wondering, I copied and pasted the paragraph above and added two more paragraphs talking about the diverse students and their families and the risks they have in attending schools as well as my ties to the schools as a parent.)
You can also testify at the school board meeting tomorrow, December 7th, at 6 pm in person or via zoom. If you choose to do this, you will have two minutes to speak. To sign up to testify, please email (schoolboard@k12northstar.org) or call (452-2000, ext. 11400) by 4 pm on the day of the school board meeting.
Feel free to personalize everything, to add facts, and to show any ties you have to the school district to both the emails and the testimony. Remember that testimonies are public record, so don't put any information like personal addresses.
Thank you in advance for any emails or testimonies sent in to protect our children, their families, and our communities.
Talk to y'alls later. Stay safe, mask up, and remember we care.
