(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

required in many situations

Red Deer Public Schools enhances mask requirements, effective Tuesday

Sep 6, 2021 | 2:12 PM

Red Deer Public Schools is adjusting its masking rules, meantime taking a shot at the provincial government’s — quote — lack of leadership.

On Monday afternoon, the division announced that the board of trustees met for a special meeting, unanimously approving the following measures related to masks, effective Sept. 7:

· Red Deer Public School Division requires that all staff, and students from Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12, wear masks on school buses, and in all common areas in school buildings, or where physical distancing is not possible.

· In classrooms if students are front facing and seated in rows with spacing, students can remove masks.

· Individuals who are unable to wear a mask will require a doctor’s note in alignment with Alberta Health CMOH Order 40-2021. Families will work with school administration on how this will apply to their child.

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· For staff and students, masks are not required when outdoors or during physical activity.

· Rentals of facilities and schools will remain operational. Masking is mandatory for all rental groups.

· Indoor school sports and extra-curricular activities will continue with masking requirements in place for students who are off fields of play. All spectators and coaches will be required to wear a mask.

· Furthermore, measures will be reviewed and amended by the Board of Trustees on a regular basis and as needed, being responsive to provincial health restrictions and the needs of the community.

The measures are nearly identical to those announced by Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools this weekend (READ MORE).

This comes too after the United Conservative government announced last week that masking would be required in indoor spaces province-wide. Schools were exempt from that, though the government gave school divisions and their boards to implement whichever rules they see fit.

Red Deer Public was originally taking a ‘not required, but strongly encouraged’ approach to masking.

Signed by Board Chair Nicole Buchanan and Superintendent Chad Erickson, a letter to media and parents Monday asks, ‘Why are school boards making health decisions?’

“As part of their discussions, the board of trustees expressed significant frustrations on why school boards were put into this position of making decisions of this nature and further resulting in division across communities in the province,” the letter says.

To that point, the board approved the following motion:

MOVED that the Board of Trustees communicates with the Government of Alberta expressing its significant concerns and frustrations on the decision making process imposed on school divisions and the lack of leadership by the government related to mask use and other COVID health restrictions within schools, resulting in greater uncertainty and increased division within our communities and across the province.

The subsequent motion was also passed unanimously.

With the exception of St. Patrick’s Community School, classes began for Red Deer Catholic and Red Deer Public schools on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

“The UCP government has completely abandoned students and failed to lead during the pandemic,” said NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman, in a statement issued Tuesday.

“They have done nothing to control the spread of COVID in schools. In fact, they’ve even removed protections for students and acted like it will be a normal year even as we face a rising fourth wave.

“Despite the lack of leadership, many school boards have stepped up to implement measures to limit the spread of COVID. I would like to thank them for putting the health and safety of kids first as Education Minister Adriana LaGrange continues to fail her constituents and all Alberta students.”

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