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A small group of parents and children gathered outside of School District 23’s Board of Education office earlier today.
They were there to protest the Provincial Health Order on mask-wearing, which was recently expanded to include K-3 students.
The parents held signs that said things like ‘Unmask Our Children’, while the kids themselves had signs saying things like ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and ‘Children Not Politics’.
SD23 has now released a statement, saying that it “does not condone” the protestors’ message on mask-wearing, which is “one of the most basic layers of safety in schools.”
Superintendent Kevin Kaardal echoed those thoughts and said safety for the school district’s staff and students will remain their top priority.
“The hard-working people who facilitate safe and healthy learning in schools are not deterred by this attempt to disrupt their work,” he said.
“We commend the diligence of both staff and students who will continue to help keep each other safe.”
The statement from SD23 said that staff and students will continue to follow the requirement to wear masks, along with any other layers of protection against communicable diseases in schools.
“Our staff work every day to create a safe and equitable learning and working environment for all our students and each other,” said Moyra Baxter, chairperson for the Board of Education.
“They do not deserve to be treated disrespectfully.”
SD23’s statement emphasized that mask wearing is only one layer of protection against COVID-19, and the most important layer continues to be “safe and effective vaccines” that are available to all eligible people.
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