School divisions getting ready for end of mask mandate for students

“One from a student who is concerned for their safety because they’re immune-compromised and they’re worried about what this means for them and then an email from a parent applauding the move and hoping that if there was any push to go back to masks that the school board would resist that,” he says.

Davidson says that unlike in previous stages of the pandemic school boards are limited in how they can respond.

He says masking was the most far-reaching tool they had to protect the school community and they are not allowed to put their own masking policy in place.

He says he’s concerned with the lack of masking in schools and other public health restrictions being lifted that “things could look very different here over the course of the next few weeks.”

They are using the tools at their disposal, such as enhanced cleaning, urging people to stay home when sick and supporting those who need to do that, as are the other divisions.

Prairie Rose Public Schools superintendent Reagan Weeks says they’ve also had parents reach out.

“This is an issue that again will have varying perspectives but we will continue to work toward ensuring that we have ideal learning environments that keep people safe,” she says.

Weeks says the rural division will continue to be nimble and listen to the concerns of families and students.

“We have throughout the course of this pandemic made exceptions that fit different contexts and we will continue our best to do so to keep people as comfortable as possible.”

Catholic board superintendent Dwayne Zarichny says he hasn’t heard from any staff, parents or students about the changes and the division has full confidence in the decision made by the province

“The position of the jurisdiction has been and continues to be that we take our direction from the chief medical officer of health and we have complete faith in her decision making with respect to COVID and the guidance that she provides,” he says. “And so given the data that was shared last night by the premier the chief medical officer of health has made that determination that this is the route to go.”

Davidson says everyone is anxious to move to a place where the pandemic doesn’t occupy so much of our thought and doesn’t affect so much of our lives.

“There isn’t universal agreement on the steps taken yesterday nor was there universal agreement on the decisions taken before. We appreciate that the vast majority of people have been respectful of one another and have sought to take care of each other.”

by Chris Brown

School divisions getting ready for end of mask mandate for students

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