Masks for schools are necessary!!!!

I realize it must be very difficult to put measures in place to keep all PA schools safe.  I am very disappointed to see that the guidance of both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics for school staff and students will not be followed in my district and in others.  In fact, having 2 unvaccinated young children, I find it terrifying! I have watched as my team at work have buried young loved ones, are living with the long-hauler impact of Covid-19 and have suffered illness even though vaccinated.  It is too much to even imagine that my children may become sick due to the ignorance of others.  It is not political.  It is not hard to wear a mask.  It is not a personal choice to walk around passing a highly contagious and deadly virus - mutating - to others.  Knowing that both vaccinated and unvaccinated are carrying similar viral loads, knowing that the vaccinated are less likely to know they are infected, knowing our children under 12 are not safe, we as a community feel that it is okay to go against our nation's scientific and medical leaders?   If masks are not mandated and vaccines not mandated for staff, we need other options. I really feel our kids need socialization too, but I would rather have them alive to socialize another day than socialize to lose a battle with something preventable.   I understand that everyone is working hard and nobody is intentionally doing the wrong things, but I really beg and plead for you to enforce state mandates for masks in schools for all!