The Durango 9-R school board can safely remove the dress code requirement of mandatory masking. This is based on outdated San Juan Basin Public Health 2020 advisories, outdated July 2020 Colorado state mandates and last summer’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
We now have more current data showing we are harming our kids. There are over 150 current studies to show the lack of efficacy for masks against the COVID-19 virus. Those current studies also show there is evidence of mask harm: physically, psychologically and emotionally. And now a current Brown University study shows that mask-wearing is lowering our children’s cognitive abilities and IQ upward of 23%! The report goes on to say that “masks … impact a range of early developing skills …” Some of these skills cannot be regained. That is real harm to our kids.
Luckily, the newer variants have much milder symptoms. And youth and those with strong immune systems have little to no risk of adverse events. This is good news! We have many surrounding La Plata County schools that are successfully mask optional, we have vaccine eligibility for all who desire and those wishing to continue wearing masks may do so. If the harm outweighs the benefits, then we cannot in good conscience advocate for continued use.
These mandates were simply written into the school dress code with no legal demand or requirement from outside health agencies. At this point, we know more, and they can simply be removed.
Kelly Hegarty
Durango
