Local reaction mixed to mandatory mask measures in Alberta schools

Exemptions will be made for students and staff who are unable to wear a mask due to medical or other needs. Mask use for kindergarten to Grade 3 students will continue to be optional, as evidence is said to show that children under 10 may be less likely than older children or adults to transmit COVID-19.

Additional measures announced by the province include all school staff to receive one reusable face shield for use in school, about 466,000 litres of hand sanitizer distributed between all school authorities, and two contactless thermometers to assist with managing student and staff health to be distributed to each school.

Red Deer Public Schools is welcoming the updated measures.

“We’ve been hearing concerns from parents wanting to ensure their children will be safe at school. Without these measures, there was uncertainty with some families on returning to school,” Board Chair Nicole Buchanan said in a release. “Our administration team has been working diligently on our playbook as to how we will best meet the health and safety needs of students and staff. We want to assure families that we are doing everything we can to keep everyone well.”

“Our plan is evolving and is flexible to best meet the needs of our schools,” added Superintendent Chad Erickson. “The more consistency we have across our schools and in the province, the greater confidence families can have that we are best addressing the needs.”

Kathleen Finnigan, Acting Superintendent for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, says they appreciate the consistent approach for all school divisions across Alberta.

“No longer are we determining within our school jurisdiction if we’re going masks or not, everyone across Alberta now has that guideline of wearing masks Grade 4 and up, and the option K-3.”

“Now note that we are working on transition times for safety,” adds Finnigan. “For example, what do lunches look like? Kids are going to be in their classrooms and teachers move, versus in the past, we had children move to teachers, now teachers are moving to the students.”

Finnigan says it’s important to remember that being safe is everyone’s job.

“We need to trust one another and work in teams to keep students and staff safe, as well as their families of course,” says Finnigan. “I want to ensure that parents do that health check in the morning, we’re ensuring that their safe in the schools by following the social distancing guidelines, cohorting, disinfecting, and hand washing. But I think it’s a true team effort and a shared responsibility.”

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) released a statement sharing their concerns over the new measures, saying they were once again developed without the input of teachers.

“That said, teachers will welcome the improvements set out in this most recent attempt to develop a plan for the resumption of face-to-face schooling,” the statement reads. “The new provisions for masking and wearing of face shields, aligns with recommendations made by the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the decision to pay for the provision of masks, sanitizer and thermometers are welcomed.”

The ATA says the new measures still do not adequately address the issue of distancing in Alberta’s overcrowded classrooms.

“The suggestion that masks need not be worn if students can be appropriately distanced within the classroom or if teachers are not working closely with students betrays a fundamental failure to understand what actually goes on in classrooms,” the statement continues. “This means that in virtually every case, everyone will be wearing masks all the time.”

Jaelene Tweedle, Chair for the City Wide School Council at Red Deer Public Schools, feels most of the measures announced Tuesday could have been done two weeks ago when the province first revealed its school re-entry plan.

“I have a feeling the abrupt change came from a lot of outcry that has come from people saying, ‘How can you leave this all on the school boards to figure this out on their own,’” Tweedle suggests. “I’m glad that extra measures have come into place, but I think there is still going to be a lot of extra responsibility and burden and stress put on teachers and staff, rather than from the provincial standpoint. It’s just kind of been passed along now.”

The province announced on July 21 that students and staff would return to school under scenario 1 – near-normal daily operations with health measures in place.

School authorities are required to be prepared to move between the three scenarios outlined in the provincial school re-entry plan. Changes to scenarios will be determined by Alberta Education.

by Sheldon Spackman

Local reaction mixed to mandatory mask measures in Alberta schools

What's Trending