After Friday’s announcement by the provincial government regarding enhanced health restrictions related to COVID-19 were reviewed over the weekend by the Board of Trustees and Senior Administration of Red Deer Public Schools to determine their impact on school operations.

While province-wide restrictions require mask wearing in all public places, the updated guidelines indicate schools are not required to implement masking, but school boards will continue to set COVID-19 management policies as they deem appropriate. 

After careful consideration, the Board of Trustees met Monday morning and approved the following enhanced health restrictions which come into effect Tuesday morning across the Division:

  • 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.
  • 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.

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 Board approved the following motion to make these concerns known:

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.

**with information provided by Red Deer Public Schools