Hamilton public health will not issue special order to mandate masks in schools
The city has rejected a request from Hamilton's public school board for a special order to mandate masks for students and staff for two weeks after March break.
In a message to The Spectator on Friday, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) chair Dawn Danko said that public health shared they respect our decision to have masks until April 1st, but they will not enact a Section 22 order."
The board voted Tuesday to require masks in schools until April 1, walking back an earlier motion with a later date of April 15.
The Hamilton board has made provincial headlines by passing a motion to extend masking until the middle of next month - against the direction from Queen's Park to lift masking requirements when students return from March break on Monday.
The provincial decision has been criticized by some leading pediatric health organizations, families and educators.
A Section 22 order issued by public health could override provincial rules.
But it's unclear exactly what the decision means for the HWDSB.
Board officials have said they believe they have the authority to require masks beyond March 21.
We are proceeding with the motion and thank public health for their consideration," board spokesperson Shawn McKillop said in an email Friday.
The Ministry of Education has said it expects boards to follow provincial direction, but has yet to issue the board a formal response or directive.
Ontario also rejected a request from Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to continue masking after March break.
We are returning to more regular and routine ways of providing in-person learning while ensuring that individuals and families can make informed choices based on their own assessment of risk," Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said in a letter shared by the TDSB.
The HWDSB says it has not received a similar letter.
Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com