(Vera Davidova)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

changing on the fly

Red Deer school divisions adjust mask mandates

Sep 17, 2021 | 12:03 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools and Red Deer Public Schools are adjusting their masking mandates, effective Sept. 20.

Announced last week, the two school boards had decided that all students from Pre-K to Grade 12 would need to wear masks in all indoor common areas.

An exception was made while in the classroom with front-facing and distanced desks.

Red Deer Public’s board also sent a scathing letter to the provincial government, damning their “lack of leadership” on the issue.

As of Sept. 15, the province had 18,706 active cases of COVID-19, including 2,189 in kids aged 0-9.

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Announced Friday, Red Deer Catholic and Red Deer Public have now decided that due to the provincial cohorting mandate, announced by government officials on Thursday, it will only require masking for Grades 4-12 in those same common areas.

For kids in Pre-K to Grade 3, who will now cohort just like older grades, masking will be required only on the school bus.

“The health and safety of our students, staff members and community is the primary concern for the Board of Trustees at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools,” says Board Chair and Trustee Kim Pasula. “We are confident that the adjustments to our school plans will help ensure that our children are well cared for and all in our community are kept safe.”

In addition, Catholic shares, elementary schools (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6) must remain with their cohorts to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission. When able, teachers will move to classrooms.

Masks are not required while outdoors, however school sports 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. In addition, spectators of indoor activities will be at one-third capacity, seated within households, and physically distanced. Spectator numbers for outdoor physical activities are currently capped at 200.

Music students will be required to wear a mask when not playing an instrument.

“As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to keep the safety of our students and staff at the forefront of our decision-making. We would like to thank our parent community for their continued support and trust during this difficult time,” says Kathleen Finnigan, Red Deer Catholic superintendent.

The full letter from Red Deer Catholic can be viewed here and Red Deer Public’s is here.

At Red Deer Public, Chair Nicole Buchanan, Vice Chair Laurette Woodward, Trustees Bev Manning, Cathy Peacocke and Bill Stuebing voted for the change, while Trustee Dianne Macaulay was opposed. The previous vote (Sept. 6) to make masks mandatory for all grades was unanimous.

At Red Deer Catholic, the board of trustees has deemed mask mandates an operational matter, therefore leaving decisions on the issue with the superintendent.

“Since the outset of the pandemic, the policy of the Board has been to follow the direction and guidance of the CMOH and AHS in our local context,” she tells rdnewsNOW in an email. “We are educators and rely on public health authorities to provide guidance regarding COVID-19 and its related public health implications.”

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