Mrs.Janet Graham, Director of Schools; Cumberland County Board of Education: Please have Cumberland County Schools and buses cleaned.

Our country is in the midst of a serious, and deadly flu epidemic. There have been fatalities from this Flu in Cumberland County, including a death of an employee at Cumberland County High School. Our children are reporting that the faculty are wearing masks in school to protect themselves. This is quickly becoming a danger to our community.

We, the parents of children who attend school in Cumberland County, are very concerned about the health of our children, and the faculty in our schools.

There has already been one petition asking for the schools to close, due to illness. Many of the counties that surround us are closed. We have asked that Cumberland County follow suit, but it seems our efforts have not been successful.

If you, the Director of Schools and the Board of Education, refuse to close our schools due to illness, we ask that you would consider having our schools and buses cleaned and disinfected over the weekend, instead.

By not closing or cleaning our schools, thoroughly, we are risking the health of our entire community. Children and staff who have come into contact with these viruses and bacteria, bring them home to family members. Some of us live with family members who have compromised immune systems. This epidemic is especially dangerous to those of us whose immune systems are not as strong as those of everyone else. Therefore, this is not about just the people who attend or work at our schools, rather, it affects us as a whole. Your actions on this matter, or lack thereof, are sending the community a message. By refusing to act on this, you are effectively telling us that you do not value our lives or health. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but, in essence, it is true. Many of us feel very strongly about this matter.

As parents, as a community, we are cautious and deeply concerned. So Many counties all around us have closed schools and are taking steps to clean and disinfect them. As of today, there are 30 school closings reported by local news. Why should we be any different&quest Can we not at least take some kind of steps to prevent more of us becoming ill, or, even worse, dying&quest

We do understand how much of an inconvenience it is to close, or to clean the schools and buses. But we feel that the risk of just one more family having to bury a loved one should outweigh that inconvenience. Surely, if one death can be prevented by cleaning and disinfecting our schools and buses, then it is worth it, is it not&quest

You cannot put a price on human life. You should not ignore the health and safety of our students and staff.

So please, we urge you, close the schools and and clean them, along with the buses. If you cannot, or if you refuse to do that, then please, have them cleaned while the schools are not in session over the weekend. Please do what is necessary to protect the health of our community.

Thank you for your consideration.