ALCDSB extends mandatory mask requirements to include grades K-3

The Board of Trustees for the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) approved two motions at a special meeting, held Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.

The motions were released in a statement dated Friday, Aug. 28, 2020:

• Whereas unity with coterminous boards has been a guiding principle for the ALCDSB school reopening plan;
• Whereas public health indicates that masks should be strongly recommended for students in K to 3 grades;
• Be it resolved that the ALCDSB school reopening plan extend mandatory masks to include Kindergarten to Grade Three in school and on buses, subject to medical and religious exemptions.

These motions were approved one day after a similar motion passed for the Limestone District School Board, requiring mandatory masking of all K-12 students in that board as well.

During this same meeting, the Board of Trustees for the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board sent a letter to the Minister of Education noting their concerns over the Ministry’s recommendation of the Board to modify the previously approved secondary return to school model with only a week before the school year starts.

The details of the letter were not released.