Regina public, Catholic school divisions opt to make masks mandatory

Regina’s two largest school divisions are making masks mandatory for all students in grades 4 through 12 when schools open in September.

In a statement released Tuesday after the provincial government issued new guidelines, Regina Public Schools joined the Regina Catholic School Division in requiring students in those grades to wear non-medical masks while at school when physical distancing is impossible.

The public school division also said it was recommending students from kindergarten through Grade 3 should wear non-medical masks at school.

All staff and visitors to public schools will be required to wear masks, as will students and staff when they are using Regina Public Schools transportation.

“More details will be made available as school division- and school-specific safety plans are updated and finalized,” said the statement on the public school board website.

“Parents, guardians and students can expect to get school return-specific details directly from their schools in the coming weeks.”

The Catholic school division noted in a statement on its website that its board of trustees made the decision Aug. 6 to require all students from grades 4 to 12 and all staff to wear non-medical masks when physical distancing couldn’t be maintained.

On Tuesday, the division said it also was suggesting but not mandating that students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 3 should wear masks if their families made that choice.

“There will be some who are unable to wear masks, and these requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” the board’s statement said.

All parents and visitors to Regina’s Catholic schools will be asked to wear masks when physical distancing isn’t possible.