Hamilton public schools to keep masks until April 15

Trustees vote to ‘stare down’ provincial order telling boards to not establish their own mandates

Hamilton’s public school board has voted to defy the province and keep masks in place for students and staff until April 15.

“It’s very courageous,” said Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustee Paul Tut. “You’ve voted to stare down the ministry therefore ensuring the safety of our students and our staff and those most vulnerable.”

The Ministry of Education had told boards they must follow the provincial direction and could not put in mask mandates of their own.

“I understand the decision we’ve just made is going against the ministry,” said trustee Elizabeth Wong. “But we have a responsibility … I hope that we can show that HWDSB truly cares.”

Trustee Dawn Danko said, “I truly believe this was an irresponsible decision made by the province and I really can’t support that.”

The vote at a special meeting Thursday made HWDSB one of the first, if not the first, school board to keep masking past March 21.

“I’m proud of our board for taking the necessary steps to account for the March break risks where our ministry has failed to do so,” student trustee Deema Abdel Hafeez said in an Instagram message Thursday. “I remain extremely disappointed in our Ministry of Education for continuously making last-minute announcements that negatively affect so many community members.”

The province had announced Wednesday it will no longer require masks in most settings on the first day kids return from March break, despite being urged by McMaster Children’s Hospital and other leading pediatric health organizations to wait until at least two weeks after the holiday.

A number of students and families that are high risk for COVID or immunocompromised had reached out “expressing their fear and distress for the weeks to come,” said Abdel Hafeez, a Grade 11 student at Saltfleet District High School.

The decision is in contrast to the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.

“The announcement is yet another sign of a return to normalcy and cause for hope,” the Catholic school board said in a letter to parents Thursday. “As the measures outlined below are lifted, we will continue to proceed with caution and place priority on the health and safety and well-being of our students.”

It’s not clear yet how the public board will enforce the mask mandate and trustees were warned by staff that it could be challenged by unions or prompt a human rights complaint.

“That brings up my concern of the kind of situation that this would put staff and teachers in school under if they’re receiving conflicting direction from the school board and the ministry,” said student trustee Aisha Mahmoud.

“We need to prioritize the safety and the well-being of our families and staff who have to come into our buildings every single day,” said trustee Maria Felix Miller. “The April 15 marker is just more sensible. It means we’re also securing a normal finish to the year.”

I truly believe this was an irresponsible decision made by the province and I really can’t support that.

DAWN DANKO TRUSTEE