The Ottawa School Board says masks are mandatory in all schools and buildings and take effect immediately.
The Ottawa-Carlton School Board briefed parents, students and staff on the new policy after the council adopted a proposal Tuesday night to require all staff, kindergarten students to 12th grade, volunteers and visitors to wear a mask in schools.
“We know there are many different points of view in the community about mask mandates. This can lead to difficult conversations and can sometimes affect relationships, “said Education Director Camille Williams-Taylor in a statement to parents.
“School is a community and relationships matter. We ask for your help in complying with the mandate, mutual respect and keeping our focus on student learning. “
Williams-Taylor says there will be exceptions to the mandatory mask requirements, including:
- Masks can continue to be removed by people while actively eating or drinking
- Masks are not required to be worn outside, but are encouraged
- When a student receives support for a learning need that would be hindered by wearing a mask, the masks can be removed during this intervention
- Students can take off their masks when engaging in more intense physical activity in physical education or sports classes.
- Employees working alone indoors, ie. offices or classrooms can take off their masks
Williams says the Ottawa-Carlton School Board will approach the implementation of the mandatory mask mandate in terms of education.
“We acknowledge that there will be cases of non-compliance,” Williams-Taylor said.
“When a student without exception refuses to comply with masking requirements, staff are required to show understanding, promote awareness and use trauma-informed practices to make an effort to understand the reason for the lack of compliance and see if the solution can be reached. “
If a student refuses to comply with the mandatory mask requirements, schools will contact the parents / guardians to help the student meet the mask requirements, or apply for an exemption from the mask requirement.
Williams-Taylor says the school board has the legal authority to enforce a mandatory by-law on masks for health and safety reasons.
The board will not use stops or expulsions to impose masking requirements.
“We expect that the majority of students will comply. However, we respect that some families may seek accommodation / release, “said Williams-Taylor.
“It is important that everyone respects the rights and choices of others. The best strategy to protect your child is to make sure he wears a mask and is fully vaccinated, to practice proper hand washing, to perform daily self-examinations and to limit social gatherings outside of school. “
Healthcare worker Dr. Vera Etches urged employers to encourage the use of masks to help curb transmission.
“Employers really do play a role. “I appreciate that the school board and other employers are thinking about how they can increase the use of masks indoors, because that adds another layer of protection,” Echts said in an interview with CTV News at six.
Students are not required to wear a mask on school buses.
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