The Central Okanagan School District (SD23) is condemning the message of protesters who took to their offices on Wednesday morning.

Several people gathered at the school district鈥檚 琉璃神社 offices, touting anti-vaccine and anti-mask rhetoric and taking issue with recent public health orders that expanded mask mandates in schools to include children between kindergarten and Grade 3.

SD23 superintendent and CEO Kevin Kaardal said SD23 does not condone the protesters鈥� message.

鈥淲e cannot condone a protest against any safety measure. Safety for our staff and students will remain our priority,鈥� he said in the statement.

鈥淭he hard-working people who facilitate safe and healthy learning in schools are not deterred by this attempt to disrupt their work, and we commend the diligence of both staff and students who will continue to help keep each other safe.鈥�

SD23 confirmed that staff, teachers and students will continue to follow the requirement, along with other safety measures to protect against other communicable diseases in schools.

鈥淥ur staff work every day to create a safe and equitable learning and working environment for all our students and each other. They do not deserve to be treated disrespectfully,鈥� said school board chair Moyra Baxter.

The protest at the school district office comes after the province鈥檚 announcement that masks are now mandatory for all students from kindergarten all the way to Grade 12.

The new mandate went into effect on Monday, Oct. 4.

READ MORE: Masks mandatory for all K-12 students in B.C. schools as of today

READ MORE: Tracker says B.C. schools recording COVID-19 exposures at 10 times last year鈥檚 rate

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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