Not the normal return to class

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A letter detailing the health and safety protocols from Superintendent Joe Rogers and Board Chair Robert Lee was sent to parents at the end of August. That information is also available on the SD 22 website and Facebook pages. Individual schools will have their specific plans on their schools website and contacts for anyone with concerns.

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The district is following the provincial guidelines with each school making adjustments for their unique circumstances:

Back to class: Schools were initially scheduled to welcome students back full time on Sept. 8, but the province announced it is pushing back the restart date by two days to Sept. 10.

Groups: Students will be sorted into learning groups to reduce the number of people they come in contact with. For elementary and middle school students, groups will be no larger than 60 people. Secondary school groups will be capped at 120.

Physical distancing: Students and staff don’t need to maintain physical distancing within their learning group, but contact should be minimized. Outside the group, physical distancing is required. Students should be more spaced out in classrooms.

Masks: Students and staff will not be required to wear masks in schools, but the province says it’s a “personal choice that will always be respected.” It says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recommends non-medical masks be worn by adults and older students when they are unable to physically distance like in hallways and on buses.

New routines: The province is urging schools to stagger recess, lunch and class transition times and take students outside whenever possible.

Transportation: Middle and high school students are asked to wear masks on buses. Students should be assigned seats, and a transparent barrier may be used to separate the driver.

Comments on the school district Facebook page are generally supportive of the overall plan, but some question why if public gatherings are limited to 50 people, why the learning groups can 60 in size for elementary schools and 120 for secondary schools.

Education Minister Rob Fleming told a media conference last Thursday that additional funding is being allocated to school safety: $101 million will go to public school districts, $8 million to independent schools and $12 million will be used for any for emerging Covid issues between now and the end of December.