Content Accordion

Public Comment 401
Public Comment 402
Public Comment 403
Public Comment 404
Public Comment 405

Submitted by: Shannon Carlson

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please do not force our children to wear masks while at school for the next month until the law goes into effect. If parents are concerned for their children, they have the options to do either virtual school or have their child wear a mask. As parents, we know our children the best (including all medical conditions) and should have the right to choose what is in our child's best interest-- just as we have school choice/options and can choose to move our children if it does not appear that the current schools are the best learning environments for them.
Public Comment 406
Public Comment 407
Public Comment 408
Public Comment 409
Public Comment 410
Public Comment 411

Submitted by: Kristin Jose

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I am the parent of a GPS student with multiple disabilities. Based on my child’s IEP, the least restrictive environment was determined to be a self-contained special education classroom. I opted for online instruction because of Covid, and because my child has a history of severe illness with respiratory viruses. I was originally planning to send my child in person once they can be vaccinated against Covid, because currently they are too young. However, after our State legislators added an item to the K-12 budget bill banning masking or vaccination requirements not just for students, but also for teachers and staff, my husband and I decided that we would keep our child online for the whole school year. We chose this because without the ability to require masking or vaccines, we do not believe that you will be able to provide adequate Covid safety on campus, and that you will most likely be unable to provide in-person schooling without significant interruptions for quarantines. We are now in a situation where parents of disabled kids, who are at increased risk of severe illness with Covid, must choose between their child’s safety from an infectious disease or their integrated in-person education. I believe that this is profoundly immoral. It is my understanding that for now, possibly only for a limited amount of time, masking requirements are legal. I ask you to prioritize the safety of your students and their ability to stay on campus in person. You know that there are precautions you can take against Covid that will make a difference, because you did it last school year, when you did require masking. Even if you can only legally require masking for a month, it will be a month of protection for kids who can’t yet be vaccinated. There will eventually be an EUA for Covid vaccines in the under-12 age group, and even a temporary masking requirement might just bridge the gap to vaccine availability for these kids. Lastly, I ask you to remember the story of the Good Shepherd, who went off in search of one lost sheep even though he had 99 others. We are frequently told that 99% of people come through Covid just fine, but let’s not forget that the other 1% are people. They are human, and they have inherent dignity and worth. We parents trust you with our precious children, and so I call on you to be good shepherds while they are in your care.
Public Comment 412
Public Comment 413
Public Comment 414
Public Comment 415
Public Comment 416
Public Comment 417
Public Comment 418
Public Comment 419
Public Comment 420

Submitted by: Brandon Cluff

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Stop the politics, read the facts! If you can’t do your job and stop children from wearing mask then please step down from your job. Your job is to protect and care for our children, not harm them and mentally scare them more than you already have. If someone with common sense would read the facts around masks and the effects they have on these children then you will find that not only do they mentally effect children, the risk of reducing O2 levels are more harmful than the virus itself. Not to mention masks do NOT stop the spread and that is clearly stated by the CDC. “The filtration effectiveness of cloth masks is generally lower than that of medical masks and respirators; however, cloth masks may provide some protection if well designed and used correctly.” We all know the masks our children use are not well designed and are not used (and washed) properly and there for helping in the spreading this virus and NOT stopping it. It would be wise for the governing body of our school district to do the right thing and allow the parents to chose for their children to wear a mask or not. Why should you be the one to make that choice for us. It has been the track record of the gilbert school governing body to follow the trend and the politics and not protect our children. Enough is enough and you should all be ashamed of yourself for pretending to care and pretending this is a hard decision. Let the parents make the choice, let mask be voluntary.
Public Comment 421

Submitted by: Ashley Palmer

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: When my kindergartner was forced to wear masks last year, it caused her to have horrible breathing problems and she has a very difficult time focusing. Please keep masks optional. If someone is worried or has underlying conditions, they can wear masks to further protect themselves. For those of us who are healthy and not worried, we (and our children) should be allowed to socially distance and practice good hygiene to protect ourselves. PLEASE KEEP MASKS OPTIONAL
Public Comment 422
Public Comment 423
Public Comment 424
Public Comment 425

Submitted by: Ryan Johnson

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please keep masks optional! I believe strongly in the vaccine. I had all of our family vaccinated, but I believe masking children does not help. If anything, they spend so much time touching their masks, it spreads more germs. Please keep it optional!!!
Public Comment 426

Submitted by: Sandi T

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: In deciding on the masking policy moving forward, please take into consideration that the CDC, AZDHS, and AAP all strongly advise for universal masking at schools to prevent the spread of COVID especially in those younger than 12 years old who are not yet eligible for the vaccine and sadly have no choice. The CDC consists of a multitude of expert scientists, doctors, epidemiologists trained and focused solely on global disease and disease prevention. The AZDHS consists of public health specialists and more. The AAP consists of 70,000 pediatricians. When all of these trained and devoted experts are all in agreement, who is the politically driven governor and any school board to make a decision AGAINST what is recommended? Please please please protect our children for a safe learning environment. A Covid mitigation policy that addresses nothing more than hand washing is no policy at all. Please enforce a mask mandate for the good of the children and community. A simple mask is no different than a school dress code and should not be seen as “stripping any freedom” which has been taken severely out of context. Thank you.
Public Comment 427
Public Comment 428
Public Comment 429

Submitted by: Karen Maas

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: As a teacher I wear a mask everyday. My own child wears a mask everyday. It is not too difficult for staff and students to wear masks to school. Masks protect our community from spreading Covid-19. Why can’t the board recommend a mask mandate to protect our students, teachers and community? It is disappointing to not feel supported by the superintendent and school board. The outbreaks of Covid are coming very soon to a school near you, it is inevitable. Please consider passing a mask mandate to protect our community.
Public Comment 430
Public Comment 431
Public Comment 432
Public Comment 433
Public Comment 434
Public Comment 435

Submitted by: Paul Scholl

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: This is your only chance, already have a home school teacher in the family and a best in class curriculum. The only reason GPS has my daughter enrolled is for sports and the social aspects. If you bend the knee for unions and overreaching government to unilaterally to impose non-science restrictions on my daughter she will be withdrawn immediately. Personal healthcare and masks belong to parents to decide. Anticipate litigation being served to the school board and the district immediately to disclose all infectious information per student and teacher/admin. Every employee and student must disclose herpes, UTIs, Gonorrhea, shingles, mumps, measles, influenza, and last 3 years of medical history before they can be in contact with my child. Long story short, mess around and find out what’s coming.
Public Comment 436
Public Comment 437
Public Comment 438

Submitted by: Laura Doras

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: My 3 children have done online schooling since March 2020. We thought we would be safe doing in person schooling this school year. It has been 14 school days of the year so far. My children have been exposed twice already, twice in less than a week apart from one another. Please mandate masks at all elementary schools. These children do not yet have the option to have a vaccine and should be protected from those not vaccinated. By 'allowing parents to have a choice' you are forcing those of us who have followed all CDC guidelines to not have a choice. My children will now have to endure the subpar education of virtual learning because majority of the school, teachers and staff included are not wearing masks. Requiring a mask mandate would be the only thing that keeps our children in 'in-person' schooling. Mask wearing would drastically reduce the infection rate, kids being pulled out of school for online and make for a safer community. Please do what is right for our children.
Public Comment 439
Public Comment 440

Submitted by: Mindy Forbes

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I'm not sure if you will be voting on mandating masks but I ask you to please keep masks optional for our children. I don't believe they are healthy to be wearing them for hours and hours. In a sterile hospital environment, that's fine. But not at school when kids are constantly touching their faces/masks and everything else. It really is a germ magnet and I feel like my kids are healthier without them- physically, emotionally, and socially. Now I know that you can find pretty much any study, Dr., video, etc. online that can be used for or against the mask debate and who's to say whose wrong or right? That's why it's important to have masks remain optional so everyone can choose according to their beliefs. Plus, parents have a right to choose the health decisions for their children and if you mandate masks again, that takes our parental choice away. Please keep masks optional. Same goes for the new vaccine too.Thank you.
Public Comment 441
Public Comment 442
Public Comment 443

Submitted by:Cameron Jones

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I am VERY concerned with the board considering a mask mandate again. Masks should be voluntary. Those at higher risk or just concerned can wear a mask if they choose. I have two children that attended GPS schools last year; one didn't mind wearing a mask but the other one hated it. It had a significant impact on her happiness, outlook and mental well-being. As the data continues to show low transmission rates between children and hospitalization (and other serious affects) for children are almost non-existent, the affects on children's mental health need to be the foremost concern.
Public Comment 444

Submitted by: Kelly Votaw

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please allow parents to choose between the risks associated with the pandemic. We are the rightful people to determine if our kids should be masked at school. Don’t mandate what should be a choice for the primary caregivers of these kids. Thanks for your service.
Public Comment 445

Submitted by: Phaedra Culley

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: No

Comment: Please consider the safety of staff and students by following the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended strategies of requiring face coverings for everyone. Masks clearly work, and we are at risk of not only compromised health, but having to teach remotely due to rising student and staff illness. Thank you.
Public Comment 446

Submitted by: Mike Grassel

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: No

Comment: Looking at the current Covid-19 landscape, districts, cities, and States WITH mandates are doing no better than those without. Masks from the Gap, Old Navy, and Walmart aren't making a difference. It's not worth risking 56 MILLION DOLLARS in funding to mandate masks for the next month when state law clearly states districts CANNOT mandate masks. Be smart here and don't cave in to the vocal minority.
Public Comment 447
Public Comment 448
Public Comment 449
Public Comment 450
Public Comment 451
Public Comment 452

Submitted by: Rebekah Jongewaard

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Without requirements to wear masks, it seems that most children and the adults who care for them are pressured into not wearing them. This endangers the most vulnerable people in our community, including thousands of unvaccinated children. I have always thought of 91茄子 folks as caring people who think for themselves but act for the greater good. Now is the time for school board members to lead the way in showing that 91茄子 cares about our children and their well-being more than politics. Please teach our kids and their families that we love them and stand for their safety; require mask-wearing in the schools!
Public Comment 453
Public Comment 454

Submitted by: Amy Robinson

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please mandate masks. Mesquite elementary has the highest number of covid cases and the kids are too young to be vaccinated. My daughters 2nd grade classroom has 2 students with covid and yesterday we found out the teacher has covid. All of this could’ve been prevented if they had been wearing masks. I kept my daughter home all last week because she had cold symptoms. I had her tested for covid and she was negative. I’m keeping her home again this week because no one is wearing masks and I’m sure by the end of the week another student in her class will test positive. I don’t want it to be her. I know of at least 3 other families keeping their children home for the same reason. The school will continue to lose money from low attendance if stronger actions are not taken to prevent the spread of covid. Our pediatrician said that last year when everyone was wearing masks there were fewer cases of other childhood illnesses (cold/flu, hand foot and mouth, RSV, pneumonia, etc). Masks work. Please don’t be bullied by the parents who rant about their freedom being compromised. We need masks so our kids who can’t be vaccinated stay healthy and safe.
Public Comment 455

Submitted by: Joanne Ingram

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please do the right thing for our children and their teachers by requiring masks indoors! My daughters would very much like to return to school in person, and they can't because you aren't providing them with a safe learning environment. Even if it's just for the next month (until the law goes into effect), it would be a start, and it would show that you are more concerned with safety than money. Please do more to protect our children!
Public Comment 456
Public Comment 457
Public Comment 458
Public Comment 459
Public Comment 460
Public Comment 461
Public Comment 462
Public Comment 463
Public Comment 464

Submitted by: Pamela Tipescu

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Masks should be optional. Remember that a lot of these children have already contracted the virus. Here is research based evidence that those children are immune and are not carrying it to others. Recovered COVID patients have robust immunity even if their symptoms were mild and subsequent antibody count is low, because latent antibody-producing cells called memory B cells for SARS-CoV-2 still exist in their bone marrow. This was shown in another Nature study. When they encounter the SARS-CoV-2 virus again, those memory cells start churning out new antibodies, which will raise the level again to eliminate the virus. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03647-4.epdf - research paper https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/good-news-mild-covid-19-induces-lasting-antibody-protection/ - news article
Public Comment 465
Public Comment 466

Submitted by: Britany Galovich

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: As a mother of 6 children in 91茄子 public schools, I am thankful for options. Five of my children attend in person school and are so much happier this year to be mask free. One child struggled with in person and is attending global Academy. It is a great option for her. If parents are not happy with in person mask free school, they have the option of global Academy. Several of my children suffer from mental health issues and the difference of last year with masks versus this year mask free is astounding. They need normalcy. Masks create fear. Thank you for continuing to give options!
Public Comment 467
Public Comment 468
Public Comment 469
Public Comment 470
Public Comment 471
Public Comment 472
Public Comment 473
Public Comment 474
Public Comment 475
Public Comment 476
Public Comment 477

Submitted by: Ashley Albright

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please keep masks optional! These kids need a normal year of learning. The emotional health of our kids is important too and all the hype surrounding covid is taking away from my child's education and overall school experience. Parents who don't feel comfortable can choose the online option for their child. I am a vaccinated person but still believe in peoples rights to choose for themselves. Please please please do NOT mandate masks and let's keep the activities and dances going for these kids to boost their moral a bit. Thank you Ashley Albright
Public Comment 478
Public Comment 479
Public Comment 480

91茄子

Public Comment 401

Public Comment 402

Public Comment 403

Public Comment 404

Public Comment 405

Public Comment 406

Public Comment 407

Public Comment 408

Public Comment 409

Public Comment 410

Public Comment 411

Public Comment 412

Public Comment 413

Public Comment 414

Public Comment 415

Public Comment 416

Public Comment 417

Public Comment 418

Public Comment 419

Public Comment 420

Public Comment 421

Public Comment 422

Public Comment 423

Public Comment 424

Public Comment 425

Public Comment 426

Public Comment 427

Public Comment 428

Public Comment 429

Public Comment 430

Public Comment 431

Public Comment 432

Public Comment 433

Public Comment 434

Public Comment 435

Public Comment 436

Public Comment 437

Public Comment 438

Public Comment 439

Public Comment 440

Public Comment 441

Public Comment 442

Public Comment 443

Public Comment 444

Public Comment 445

Public Comment 446

Public Comment 447

Public Comment 448

Public Comment 449

Public Comment 450

Public Comment 451

Public Comment 452

Public Comment 453

Public Comment 454

Public Comment 455

Public Comment 456

Public Comment 457

Public Comment 458

Public Comment 459

Public Comment 460

Public Comment 461

Public Comment 462

Public Comment 463

Public Comment 464

Public Comment 465

Public Comment 466

Public Comment 467

Public Comment 468

Public Comment 469

Public Comment 470

Public Comment 471

Public Comment 472

Public Comment 473

Public Comment 474

Public Comment 475

Public Comment 476

Public Comment 477

Public Comment 478

Public Comment 479