The Vancouver School Board is extending its mask mandate to apply to all students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
It’s the first in B.C. to go beyond the provincial guidelines for masking in schools, which recommend the policy be in place for grades 4-12.
“Parents teach children those ages to do lots of things, including crossing the street safely,” said Barb Parrott, the trustee who introduced the motion on Monday night.
“That age can be taught to wear their masks and they are doing that”
The motion passed unanimously, and the board shared its decision on Twitter.
“There has been a lot of stress, per the letters that we have been receiving, from parents of students who, when the students come home, they are faced with vulnerable family members as well,” said trustee Allan Wong.
In its own tweet, the BC Teachers’ Federation applauded the board’s move, and thanked trustees for “stepping up to protect the safety of students, teachers, and staff.”
It’s not yet clear when the all-student mandate will go in to effect, but more details are expected in the coming days.