(File photo/paNOW News)

By Ian Gustafson

Mandates lifted

School divisions react to provincial mandates being lifted, decision on student masking yet to be decided

Feb 9, 2022 | 5:17 PM

On Tuesday Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced the proof of vaccination mandate will be lifted on Monday and the remaining public health orders – mandatory masking and mandatory self-isolation – will be removed at the end of the month.

However, this raises questions as to what rules will remain in schools.

Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division Director of Education Robert Bratvold said the announcement made by the provincial government was anticipated and that at some point we need to learn how to live with COVID-19 in a safe and positive way.

In terms of whether they will require students to continue to wear masks in their schools has yet to be determined and will come to a decision next week.

“We have not finalized our decision about masking in schools after Feb. 28 but we’re consulting with health, consulting with some others as well and we’ll let staff and families know on or before Feb. 18 what our position and what our decision will be,” Bratvold told paNOW.

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They will no longer require staff to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test result as of Feb. 14.

He added they want to travel the journey of learning to live with COVID-19 slowly and that the removal of mandates leads them towards that. However, families and students need to know Sask. Rivers will have some careful practices in their schools to help minimize the transmission and keep people safe.

These practices will include promoting hand washing, social distancing, sanitizing and cleaning. As well as still provide rapid tests and encourage people to follow the advice of public health and get the vaccine.

They will also encourage students and staff to stay home when they are sick and come back when they’re well.

Prince Albert Catholic School Division Director of Education Lorel Trumier said at this point they’re still trying to seek clarification on some of the elements and said it’s encouraging Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said some elements may not be needed in the future.

“That’s exciting because that means we’re progressing through the pandemic and I know our students, our staff and our families have done a remarkable job maintaining the pieces they needed to maintain during the times they needed to do it,” Trumier said. “We’re in a position where we’re seeking clarification for what does that look like in school settings in the near future.”

The Catholic School Division has not decided if they will still require students and staff to wear masks, but Trumier said it’s a decision they won’t take lightly.

“We’ll really examine all the pieces, and we’ll work with our medical health officer and public health officials, and you know try to align ourselves with what they’re recommending as we go forward,” she said.

They will also be reviewing whether they will require staff to continue to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. She added it is great to hear that 12- to 17-year-olds have now been given the green light to get their booster shot.

“I think we still encourage our students and families and staff to follow public health guidance and we know that the masking and isolation is still in effect until the end of the month and so we’ll expect and require the support of all of our people to continue to do that for a little while longer at least,” Trumier said.

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12