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(File photo/The Canadian Press)
UPDATE

Hold and secure at District 83 schools ends

Sep 21, 2021 | 5:00 AM

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District has ended the ‘hold and secure’ for all of its schools as of today.

The measure was put in place last Friday due to some COVID-related protestors who entered some Salmon Arm schools.

“Given the situation that unfolded at several schools in and around Salmon Arm, it was necessary to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Though the term “lockdown” has been reported by some media sources, this is inaccurate. The “hold and secure” we initiated was a means of preventing unauthorized individuals from entering our schools,” said District 83 Superintendent Donna Kriger.

Kriger says they have encouraged schools to limit their number of entry points, and extra supervision will be added where possible during recess and noon hour.

“Most schools will move toward having the main entries locked after the opening bell, the exception may be our secondary schools with open campuses. You may gain access to the school by calling the main office. Where possible, additional supervision will be added to playgrounds during recess and noon hours.”

Kriger thanked parents and students for their patience and understanding.

“The messaging you received on Friday was an attempt to keep you informed and was done in the spirit of transparency. If you have questions or concerns, I would welcome a thoughtful and respectful conversation,” the superintendent added.

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