A meeting hosted by St. Paul Education Regional Division fielded a number of questions from parents looking for clarity on what a return to school will look like in just a couple weeks.
The meeting was held via the Zoom online platform on Aug. 13 and at one point had over 300 participants. A private online meeting was also held the night before with school staff, and included about 340 participants.
The meeting started with board chair Heather Starosielski offering a few words, and noting that one of the division's guiding principals for the re-entry is communication. She encouraged parents to reach out to the division if they had questions about unique situations.
Superintendent Glen Brodziak offered an overview of the division's re-entry plan, which was released just days earlier. He noted the division does not have a choice in which re-entry scenario to proceed with, and must move ahead with scenario one, as dictated by the province.
"We've been given our marching orders," said Brodziak, adding, many of the re-entry plans in the province are going to be similar since they are all built on the same foundation.
The St. Paul division is focusing on the overall health of all families, when planning for re-entry. He noted that pediatric experts point to the mental health and social benefits of students returning to school as being crucial in their wellbeing.
Brodziak also noted the re-entry plan can change, and gave one example of an item that is already being reconsidered. In the re-entry plan released on Aug. 10, it stated lockers would not be used in schools, in an effort to maintain social distancing between students. But, other items, such as where winter boots and jackets would be stored, and even the social aspect of lockers being an extension of the junior high experience, have resulted in that item being reconsidered.
Brodziak said he was about 51 per cent sure lockers would be used, but the item was still being discussed.
A big part of the re-entry plan is the daily self-check all parents are expected to do with their children, every day.
"It is the honour system, of course," said Brodziak. The self-check includes a list of COVID-related symptoms, and if a student shows any of the symptoms, they are not allowed to attend the school for at least 10 days, or until they get tested for COVID and receive a negative result.
"We hear a lot about students with pre-existing conditions," said Brodziak. He encouraged those families to get tested for COVID ahead of the school year, so there is a baseline that can be followed.
He offered an example of a student with a dry cough. "If I continue to have that same cough, I'm fine," said Brodziak, but if the cough turns into a wheezing cough or a new symptom is exhibited, then the student will be kept at home and a new test may be needed.
"We can't force people to get a test. But, they can't return for 10 days," said Brodziak, when asked about testing. It was also noted that siblings do not have to stay home if another sibling in the household has a symptom.
Brodziak also spoke about signs that will be going up in schools, and noted that work was being done to have arrows and markers in place throughout each of the schools. When students return to school, the division is asking parents to get in the habit of dropping off students and picking them up without entering the building.
"We have to be realistic . . . we also have to show compassion," he said, adding, parents bringing young children to their first day of school will be allowed into the building. But, the fewer people in the buildings, the safer everyone is, he affirmed.
On a similar topic, Brodziak said there is some talk about staggering the first day of schools for students, and only having half the students return on Sept. 2. The other half would attend on Sept. 3. This would give students a day to become familiar with the new rules, and would allow parents to enter the school to help younger children. A full return would take place on Sept. 4.
Brodziak also spoke about what has become a very familiar term since the COVID-19 pandemic began - cohorts. He noted that previously, the entire school was a large cohort, but now there will be strict seating plans and students will be kept in smaller groups.
Phys. Ed. classes will occur, explained Brodziak. He noted that close contact sports won't take place, but students will be able to play sports, such as volleyball, where precautions can be taken - such as hand sanitizing when entering and exiting the gymnasium, and the ball can be sanitized also.
Recess will also occur, but may be staggered. A school won't send 200 kids out onto the playground at one time, said Brodziak. Playground equipment will be accessible, although it is near impossible to sanitize the equipment itself. Instead, focus will be put on students sanitizing their hands after playing.
Music classes will look different, with no wind instruments being allowed, and no singing.
When speaking about staffing and substitutes, it was noted that while the division does have a list of about 70 substitute teachers, not all teachers go to all schools.
"Could we be challenged? We could be," said Brodziak, when speaking about teachers who may miss work due to having symptoms themselves. Substitutes at St. Paul Education will be allowed to move throughout the division. Substitute teachers are being encouraged to be tested ahead of the school year, like all schools staff, but do not have to be tested when moving between schools.
Masks
The topic of masks came up a few times during discussions on Thursday. Brodziak explained that as of this week, central office staff will be required to wear masks when they can't socially distance.
He also spoke about how exemptions will be made, but must go through him, if a student can't wear a mask as required by the provincial government.
It was also noted that students will be able to remove their masks in class, when they are socially distanced. When asked by a parent if all classes will have the ability to maintain the two-metre distance required, Brodziak said it will be done to the best of the division's ability.
Survey
Parents will be asked to fill out a survey, likely this week, to allow for schools to plan accordingly. Families are being given the choice to continue with at-home learning, supported by the division, if they do not feel comfortable having children return to school.
The division will be looking to its current teachers to lead the online learning and will be putting out an expression of interest to hopefully attract the most tech-savy and motivating teachers to get the job done.
"This will be rigorous, but not overwhelming. The kids are going to be learning," said Brodziak, when speaking about at-home learning. He noted there will be specific outcomes that will have to be met to allow students to move on to the next grade level. He also noted that parents will be allowed to move between in-class and in-home learning, but the division is asking for 30 days notice when a student is making the shift in either direction.
No hybrid learning will be allowed, which means families will have to choose one stream or the other for their child.
Transportation
"Buses will be crowded," said Brodziak, when speaking about transportation to and from schools.
The re-entry plan states that buses will be kept to 80 per cent capacity, and parents should be aware there could be disruptions in transportation if a bus driver has symptoms and isn't able to drive his or her route and a substitute driver can't be found.
Bus drivers will be given masks and visors. If a child gets on a bus with a cough, the child will be isolated when they get to school. A strict no-eating rule will be on place for buses, said the superintendent.
