Alpharetta teen raising money to buy students masks

Fulton County Public Schools made the decision Thursday to begin the school year online. If that changes later, one teen wants students to be prepared.

Sydney Harrison, a rising senior at Chattahoochee High School, has started a GoFundMe page to buy every student a face mask.

“They want to reopen but aren’t taking action to keep schools safely open throughout the school year,” Sydney wrote on her fundraising page.

Before deciding to start school online, the district only “recommended” students wear masks. Sydney told 11 Alive this concerned her.

“I feel like it is a big risk to take by not having masks mandated because a lot of people don’t have the option to do online school,” she said.

During the 2019-20 school year, about 93,500 students attended classes in 59 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 18 high schools and 10 charter organizations in the district.

Doing the math, Sydney figures it will take $40,000 to buy one mask for each student. She told 11 Alive she has already talked to a supplier.