COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A group of concerned parents protested outside Cobb County School headquarters Thursday afternoon demanding that the district make masks required for students and staff.
The protest came just a day after a Cobb County school sent an entire 5th grade class home for virtual learning because so many students tested positive for COVID-19.
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The principal at East Side Elementary School in Marietta, Maria Taylor, sent a letter to parents on Wednesday.
“This was not an easy decision to make but was done so due to the fact that over the past few days we have had an extremely high number of 5th grade students who have tested positive for COVID-19,” the letter read.
Many parents throughout the county have demanded that masks be required at schools as cases of COVID-19 increase. The case rate has increased more than 200% in recent weeks due to the spread of the delta variant.
“We have a serious problem in our school right now, and we feel like we’re not being heard right now by the superintendent or any of the board members,” said parent Allison Feldman. “We all have to do our part and wear a mask until this variant and this illness is actually under control and non-existent in our schools.”
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The group’s plea for a mask mandate was met with opposition.
“I’m out here to protect my right as a parent and the health of my children,” parent Odis Dawkins said.
Tifany Lee and David Gray are the parents of two Cobb County students. They said requiring kids and staff to wear a mask will have a negative impact on mental health.
“For my young daughters who are just learning to go out in the world, going into school making friendships, socialization is a huge aspect of education and with them not being able to see the smile of teachers or friends is deeply disturbing to me,” Lee said.
The director of the Cobb Douglas Public Health Department said wearing masks and getting vaccinated will help slow down the spike they have been seeing in recent weeks.
The district responded to Thursday’s rally in a statement, saying:
“We value and appreciate input from our entire community. In accordance with a recently issued administrative order by the GADPH, Cobb’s updated Public Health Protocols are intended to balance the importance of in-person learning and the frequent changes associated with COVID-19, along with the concerns from our community.”
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