The Prairie South School Division has sent out a letter to parents to outline the guidelines for masks for the upcoming school year.

Masks will be mandatory for students and staff in Grades 4 to 12 in certain scenarios for the month of September.

After September, the school board will re-evaluate the situation.

Masks will be mandatory for those staff and students during indoor transitions such as in hallways and bathrooms and on the school bus. Masks will also be required in classrooms where 15 or more staff and students are present.

"The Minister of Health has made clear that when you are able to be physically distant then the necessity of masks is not there," board of education chair Robert Bachmann.

Students in Pre-K to Grade 3 are not required to wear masks, but parents can choose to provide masks for their children and staff will support their use during school hours. Staff for Pre-K to Grade 3 will not be required to wear a mask in the classroom but will be required to wear one during indoor transitions.

The provincial government recently announced that they have purchased six million masks for school divisions. However, the Prairie South School Division is encouraging parents to provide their children with masks.

"If you do the math of the tens of thousands of students within the province and do that by every school day you can see that that supply of six million will not last that long," Bachmann said.

Visitors and non-classroom staff must wear masks when students are present in common areas and during indoor transitions. Masks will be required in classrooms when visiting multiple groups of students. Staff may choose to mask at other times as well.

Exceptions will be made for any staff or students where a medical condition makes it unsafe to wear a mask. Those who choose not a wear a mask will not be exempt.

Bachmann said if parents have any questions or concerns to contact any the school board or any of the trustees and they welcome feedback.