Ottawa's largest school board doesn't pass its own extended mask mandate

Ottawa's largest school board isnotextendingmandatory maskrules beyond March Breaknor continuing with its vaccine mandates.

The Ontario government islifting most mask mandatesonMonday, along with removingthe cohort systemand daily on-site screening inschools. Several groupshave said the mask change is premature.

Duringa special meeting that lasted well into Monday night, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) trustees considered extending mandatory maskinguntilApril 8 for kindergartento Grade 12, but ultimately didn't have the votes todefythe province.

The motion failed to pass in a tie vote, with six opposed and six in favour.

Trustees in favour of the extension argued that all rules being lifted at once could put immunocompromised staff and students at risk. Trustees against said they were comfortable with public health decisions.

Board asksprovince to consider extension instead

Somerset/Kitchissippi trustee Justine Bell, who put together the motion on the board's mask extension,told CBC Radio'sOttawa Morning last week that schools aren'tthe place to quickly lift restrictions withthe hopethat case numbers stay low.

She also said that changing the rules now could confusestudents who havebeen told for months that masks are essential to protect themselves and their friends.

Trustees voted instead to ask the province to consider extendingmaskrules for a few weeksto helpadjust to the lackofdaily screening and cohorting.

The board willalsoaskfor more guidance on how to protect immunocompromised staff and students.

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Ottawa's Medical Officer of HealthDr. Vera Etches, said last week thatthe city's COVID-19 trends have been stablebut are relatively high.

People should still thinkabout ways to limit risks, she said. That includes staying home when sick as screening stops at schools.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board is also dropping mask mandates Monday.

Board also drops vaccinationrequirements

In addition to dropping mask mandates, theOCDSBvoted to drop the vaccine mandates for employees and visitors that have been in place since last September.The board has a vaccine compliance rate of more than 98 per cent for staff.

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Rideau-Vanier/Capital trustee Lyra Evans, who was in favour of keeping thisrequirement, had argued the board has the authority and the moral responsibility to protect students in its care.

"We have made the decision to go above and beyond as we have felt it is necessary in the past, and I continue to believe it is necessary," she said.

But the board voted to rescind the mandate, with some stating concerns about the feasibility of continuing.

College trustee Rob Campbell said the ruleswereput in place to support vaccinationefforts, but if public health no longer requiresproof of vaccination, neither should the school board.

"It's impossible to have a superstructure on a foundation that no longer exists," Campbell said.