Ontario government refuses school boards request to extend mask mandate

BY PAUL JUNOR

The announcement by the Ontario Government that mask mandates for students and staff will be lifted has provoked diverse reactions. On Friday, March 18^th, 2022 the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) sent a letter to parents indicating it was going ahead with plans to continue the mask mandate until April 1^st, 2022 in order to ensure that there was time to adjust to the new expectations.

The letter, which can be seen on the boards, website:www.hwdsb.on.ca states, “At a March 15^th, 2022, Special Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees rescinded previous motions. This motion continues the mask mandate until April 1^st, 2022, to allow for a transition period after the March break and for students seeking transition to remote learning. Students and staff will be required to wear masks (non-medical or medical) while indoors at school and on buses until April 1^st and will be strongly encouraged to continue masking after this date.”

The HWDSB’s board’s chair Dawn Danko wrote a letter on Friday, March 11^th, 2022, to Nancy Naylor, Deputy Minister of Education regarding, “Lifting of Health and Safety Measures in Schools.” The letter highlights the memo sent from the Ministry of Education on March 9^th, 2022, to Directors of Education. This memo “Provided school boards with an update on key health and safety measures for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year that includes: lifting the vaccine disclosure policy, masking, co-horting, and distancing, as well as on-site screening requirements.”

The letter identifies two reasons why the trustees believe a “Gradual phased approach is preferred than an abrupt ending to masking.” These include; “First and foremost, it supports students, family and staff well-being through a time of significant change,” and “We have significant concerns around the plan for lifting most of the key pandemic-related health and safety requirements immediately following March break.”

Minister Leece sent a letter to the HWDSB, which reinforces the government’s expectations that the mask mandate is lifted for students and staff. The HWDSB responded that they are not stopping masking. The board responded that as of 7:30 pm March 18^th, 2022, “We welcome a letter received late Friday from the MOE. We are reminding staff and students to wear a mask until April 1^st, 2022, and to exercise their choice by completing the mask exemption process, if needed.”

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), which asked for an extension of the mask mandate, received a response from Dr Kieran Moore, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health. The province also denied the Toronto District School Board’s request for more time for policies around the mask mandate. Alexander Brown, the Chair of the TDSB in a letter asked, “The scheduled lifting of masking in schools on March 21^st, 2022, be put on hold for an indeterminate period of time.” The TDSB posted on its website on March 18^th, 2022, that the province expects the board to comply with no masking as of Monday, March 21^st.

The Ontario Elementary Teachers Federation (ETFO) expressed concerns in a press release on Monday, March 14^th, 2022, titled, “Government must allow school boards to prioritize student safety.” The letter states, “Once again, the government appears to be prioritizing political interests over safety in schools. The Ontario Science Table, Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald Cohn have said the March 21^st, 2022 removal of the mask mandate comes too soon; yet, the government expects school boards to implement this decision in schools next week.

Doug Ford should be motivated by care and concern for students rather than his re-election strategy, and work in cooperation with school boards to ensure safety and stability for all.”

Only time will tell what will happen.