ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – Speechless, scared and frustrated. This is how some high school students at St. Louis University (SLUH) tell News 4 how they feel after the school announced a new masking policy. This is a change that some students, parents and teachers call “unacceptable”.

“I am actively on chemo for cancer, so he [my son] takes the greatest precautions. So when that announcement was made it was like ‘oh my gosh’, “said a concerned parent.

A News 4 parent who spoke on Monday declined to use his name. She says families received a surprise email from SLUH late Sunday afternoon, stating that masking is no longer mandatory inside the school, but simply recommended.

“They are putting me in danger. Even if they save a person by doing this, it would be so pro-life, if you want to take the Catholic route,” the parent said.

News 4 said school administrators did not take into account family or teachers’ thoughts on masking when changing policy.

“As a Jesuit institution, we preach to be men and women for others and the school, with this decision, just didn’t do that,” said one student.

News 4 spoke to six students on Monday. They have all asked to remain anonymous.

“I was scared enough,” said another student after hearing the news.

“I was a little incredulous,” said another.

“The school did not recognize in its decision that a lot of people go home to elderly people, they go home to people with pre-existing conditions, they go home to communities of color that don’t have access to health care like the majority of schools do, ”said another student.

School administrators say they made their decision based on the low number of COVID-19 cases, high vaccination rates and high regional figures. News 4 has requested to speak with a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force regarding regional numbers. They couldn’t do an interview on Monday. However, the City of St. Louis Health Department told News that 4 private schools are required to follow the city-wide mask mandate that was reinstated on October 1.

“Health order is the law as long as it is in force. So we expect all individuals to comply with it,” said Department of Health Director Dr Fredrick Echols.

When News 4 asked the leaders of SLUH if they defied the city’s mask mandate, they did not answer the question.

“It’s life or death. It’s survival for them [students], and if they don’t feel safe in that environment, then why are we paying? “said a concerned parent.

The high school teachers, who did not want to go in front of the camera, say they are extremely disappointed with the decision.

“The administration has been callous and almost humiliating in response to our security concerns. I’m worried what’s going to happen. The students have already laughed at me for wearing my mask,” a teacher told News 4.

At present, all other private and public schools within the city limits of St. Louis continue to require masking. These SLUH students say they feel their health and well-being is not a priority compared to other students in the city.

“It shows a stark difference between decisions made and how our decisions are made, which some might claim are funded by money or politics,” said one student.

News 4 requested an interview with Father Ian Gibbons, principal of the school, on Monday. We have not received a reminder.