Submitted by: Christene Horlacher

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Remove Face masks from our kids!! This has gone on long enough!! Face masks cause more harm than good! I know many that have had anxiety and stress from the masks. Ducey has removed the mandate as so should GPS!! Most other schools in AZ have from over the mandate! GPS needs to also. I am considering removing my child from GPS because you do not have the students, my students best interest at heart. Get over the covid excuse!!

Submitted by: Robert Stringer

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I really hope GPS follows other districts and puts an end to these unnecessary mandates. These kids don't deserve to live like this. Especially considering that non of the masks I have seen worn at the school by not only teachers but also students are certified to protect against any virus. Don't believe me go ask any nurse or doctor. I have not seen one properly fitted N-95 mask. These cheap blue masks or cloth face coverings do nothing and we all need to wake up and put an end to this madness. If things do not change with this district my kids will be pulled and moved to another district more than likely next year. Kids do not deserve to live like this and it is time to get back to normal and use some common sense.

Submitted by:TYLER HAMELWRIGHT

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: In response to your decision of the Mask Mandate, I urge you to reconsider. I have discussed this with many parents and we have had enough of the masks at school. Families will remove their kids from the school district, which results in staff and teachers losing their jobs. I will also encourage any school board member to be voted out for the decisions made concerning masks and school closures.

Submitted by:Dr. Kiera Lane

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: As a physician in the valley for 20+ years and a parent of a student in 1st grade in Gilbert Public Schools I am concerned for the board to not require masks for K-12 students until the end of the school year. Although I understand wearing masks are not preferred, they have been shown to be effective to reduce the transmission of COVID19. It is the advice of the CDC to have K-12 students to wear masks. In the school system right now about 85% of the entire population of people are children and only 15% are teachers that may or may not be vaccinated at this time. The rate of transmission has stayed low because of wearing masks. If you follow the Governor Ducey to remove this we will see an increase in cases in schools and in the community. To stop mitigation efforts with only 5 weeks left of the school year it not a reasonable things to do and may set our state back. Making a change like this seems more reasonable in the new school year when more of our state is vaccinated and especially when K-12 student can be vaccinated for COVID19. As physician I am seeing devastating effects on both adults and young patients as young a 8 years old with long haul syndrome from COVID19. Maybe your family member(s) or child had a minor cold from COVID9 but you don't know if your child will be that person who will have severe effects of COVID19 or who transmits it to a family member who may have catastrophic effects. The pandemic continues on and new variants that are more contagious are a current threat to public safety. This is why continuing mitigation efforts are essential right now to stay the course. The board had the ability to continue to move us forward and protect our children. Please do no remove mask mandates in the schools for K-12 at this time and let our children be protected for the remainder of the year. Put health at the forefront for our children and our community.

Submitted by:Laura Phillips

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Thank you for keeping the mask requirements in class! Please continue to be safe until children can be vaccinated, thanks!

Submitted by: Laura brockman

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: There are a few positive things about the gilbert school district compared to others I’ve been in. That being said me and quite a few of my friends in the gilbert public schools plan to switch to charter schools since they’ve done a better job listening to the concerns of parents throughout this year. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. If you care about keeping kids in your schools you should be thinking of ways to give all parents more options since we know what’s best for our individual children.

Submitted by: Rufina M Medina

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: No

Comment: Will the board consider allowing students to take off their masks while outside if the CDC says it's safe?

Submitted by: Sally Visnansky

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please do NOT overturn your face mask requirement this school year for students or staff. Please do NOT endanger my family bc some wave of loud, uninformed, morally corrupt, and selfish people think their “freedom” to get everyone around them sick is more important than your obligation to keep the children and YOUR AMAZINGLY DEDICATED selfLESS staff as safe as possible while under your watch and care.

Submitted by: Sharon Bordes

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I know this subject was discussed and voted on last week, but there are many parents who still want the masks to be optional. If the teachers are the ones that want the masks, why don't those teachers wear them? These masks are very unhealthy for our children. It has been proven that masks do not work and I feel it is wrong for these kids to wear one all day. It's hard to wear a mask at a store and I cannot imagine how the kids tolerate them all day. The children shouldn't be made to wear a mask and this should be left up to the parents. Please reconsider this issue, as I have seen many comments where parents are debating whether to take their kids out of school now.

Submitted by: Anna Watts

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: You are holding out. You are one of the only districts in this area to still REQUIRE children to wear masks. It is not your responsibility to protect people’s health. It is each individual’s responsibility to decide what is best for them individually. Your staff has received the vaccine-or had numerous opportunities to receive it-therefore they should feel abundantly protected. Otherwise WHY push the need for a vaccine??? This is completely ridiculous and an over reach of your power and jurisdiction.

Submitted by: Tom Miller

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I cannot wait until this year is over. We are leaving for Charter School. Kids have carried the brunt of your decisions and created a hostile environment that can never be rectified. I hope you resign before the next election. Your decisions have destroyed children for years and personally it’s criminal.

Submitted by: James Taylor

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: The board has a responsibility to provide a SAFE educational environment for students/children. There should be no option regarding compliance with 100% mask wearing on campus as long as there is ANY question of the benefit in remediation and reduction of risk. We have observed a process of varied compliance at campus locations. There should be a well defined consequence for observed failure to comply.

Submitted by: Stephanie

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I have been displeased this year with the requirements of masks. Basically I have been extremely disappointed in the fact that the school board has catered in every way to those who are pro mask and those who would like to be online. What about those families that would like in person with a CHOICE regarding face coverings? I have 8 children who are school age, and I’ve already pulled one to a private school. I plan to pull the other 7 from GPS if I get any indication this continues. If a family wants to wear a mask, great; and if a family wants to be mask free, great!!! I am pro choice.

Submitted by: Paul Kessler

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: are there any studies that can be cited to show that young children need to continue wearing masks? these kids are going out with their families daily into establishments that don't require masks or social distancing. parents are going to work and having contact with others without wearing masks or social distancing. the kids are exposed to many other people on the weekends and after school. wearing masks at school is not protecting them even if masks worked as promised. The health department does not dictate the policy. school board members have the power to remove the mandate for their schools. children are the least affected by this virus. if kids parents want their kids to wear them that is their prerogative, and they should not be embarrassed to wear them. by the same token all should be free to choose for their children. mask or no mask... a parents decision. the time for the mandatory masks at school has passed. end it now.

Submitted by: Shannon Hanson

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: We are EXTREMELY disappointed in your choice of mask mandate. If parents feel uncomfortable with sending their kids without a mask, then they should have their kids online! You have many districts and charters and private schools making masks optional all around you. Ultimately you are forcing strong families to choose a different option for next year. We are extremely disappointed in your choices this year.

Submitted by: Doug

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Why are students still having to wear masks when the science says they have virtually no chance of spreading the virus? Governor Ducey lifted the order to have schools make students wear masks. When will the Gilbert schools stop making kids wear face masks? It is very unhealthy not only for students but teachers and staff as well to wear masks for the entire school day. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Submitted by: Kelly White

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please get rid of masks. PLEASE.

Submitted by: Chuck kerby

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: It is past time to take the masks off our children. Statistics has proven that children are in the lowest risk category for covid and teachers and faculty staff have had plenty of time to get the vaccine. Please respect our children’s right to no longer wear face masks at school.

Submitted by: Alina Douglas

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Thank you for keeping the mask policy till the end of the year. At this point, consistency is what we need at school.

Submitted by: Stephanie Payne

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please let our kids live their lives and have their parents choose if they want their kids to wear a mask. We are not afraid of Covid and we want our freedom to choose.

Submitted by: Leah thompson

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Get these masks off our children. I know it was already decided by the gods of education that they were to remain on until the end of the year but TAKE THESE MASKS OFF teachers want to keep wearing GREAT

Submitted by: Billie Jo

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Your recent decision to lay off over 150 teachers has sparked a video my organization had me watch a few months ago. I think it is quite fitting for you and the district administration to view this 10 minute video below. It is my hope that other options were explored before you delivered your message a few weeks ago to the 150+ experienced teachers. Due to your decision, it is my opinion is that you failed to connect with your employees, you have created a district community that can not trust you, and clearly you did not demonstrate care and loyalty to your employees. https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_why_good_leaders_make_you_feel_safe

Submitted by: Shana Reese

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I don’t feel that the decision on masks was well thought out. I didn’t realize that the kids still had to wear these on play grounds? This makes no sense. I don’t fell they should have to wear them at all. My child never has to wear one anywhere but at your schools. If they went to mesa or queen cree or higley they would have to wear one...? You have already lost attendance. Your schools need to match your town. If you don’t have to wear a mask into a city building why do you have to wear one in a school?

Submitted by: Andra Wilson

Live or Work in the District: No

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please discuss Covid-19 measures for in-person summer school, and make masks a requirement while indoors until those under 16 can be vaccinated. My daughter is registered to attend summer school to free up some space for elective classes in the fall, and is not feeling comfortable with the idea of attending class without masks. Hopefully we will be able to do that in the fall, but summer is too soon without vaccines for children. We need to know soon what the plans are so we can change summer school plans, if needed. Thank you.

Submitted by: Kelli Jeffs

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please reconsider your stance on mandating masks in the schools. Queen Creek unified school district does not require them any longer and Higley is giving parents the choice of masks for their children. The data is clear that the rate of children getting COVID-19 are extremely low and recovering from it has a 99.7% rate. With the weather temperatures increasing, it would be in their best interests to have the option of masking up for school. None of this makes sense—they don’t wear them at recess or in the lunch room. Does COVID exposure not exist the? It is time for Shane McCord and those working in behalf of the parents through the Gilbert unified school district to get a back bone and listen to what the majority of parents want. I guarantee that none of you will be voted back in during your next election based on how you’ve handled this. It’s disgusting! The majority of parents strongly disapprove of the actions of GUSD. Many are looking to take their kids elsewhere for the upcoming school year because of the lack of voice we have when it comes to meeting the basic needs of our children. You represent us and your actions should represent what we demand. You should be ashamed of yourselves for depriving our children of oxygen. Masks don’t work! The people who have not been wearing masks during this pandemic do not get tested for Covid. I guarantee you that! That means that those testing positive do wear masks and that masks don’t work. I would hope that you would reconsider your stance on this in light of evidence and that you will do what is best for our children.

Submitted by: Faith Rastoka

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: Please vote to have masks optional. All the surrounding school districts are leaving it up to the individual to make that decision and I feel we should be able to do the same.

Submitted by: Brady Standifird

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment:

Submitted by:S. Moreland

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: I would like to see face coverings remain until at least the end of the year. Thank you!

Submitted by: Sharon Bordes

Live or Work in the District: Yes

Child(ren) attending a GPS school: Yes

Comment: https://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.org/covid-19/masks Please read. The study included nursery, elementary, secondary, and higher schools. Masks are unhealthy. Please give our children a sense of normalcy. This has gone on far too long. Thank you.