Petition signing So We Can “See Them Smile”

Petition signing So We Can “See Them Smile”

Community members of Eagle Peak Montessori collecting signatures to give children the choice to remove their masks while at school

Walnut Creek— April 27 — Eagle Peak Montessori School students and parents have organized a petition drive to encourage lifting of the mask mandate at the Walnut Creek school, which is the only public school in the area still enforcing it.

Eagle Peak students supported and accompanied by parents, will gather in front of the school on Hutchinson Drive on Friday, April 29, from 8-8:30am and 2:15-2:45pm to collect signatures from community members who agree that the time has come for masking to be optional.

Currently, the school board and Principal Michelle Hammons are enforcing the mask mandate with no plans to lift it this school year or next. Mount Diablo School District, which has granted Eagle Peak their charter, and Walnut Creek School District have both lifted the mandate since Contra Costa Public Health Department changed its recommendations earlier this year.

Many Eagle Peak parents and students have voiced their desire to see the mandate lifted, at public board meetings and via email to school administrators, but they’ve found school administrators to be unwilling to answer questions about why the mandate is still in place, and what criteria they are using to decide when to lift it. The Montessori Method promotes hands-on learning. Through this petition drive, students will be getting hands-on experience with how to create change and promote their civil liberties. Those children participating can speak publicly with parental permission.

For more information, press only:

Tammy Yahud

Tamarhelman@gmail.com