This is not the summer for complacency, experts warn as schools prepare to reopen
“It’s all about risk mitigation,” said Thames Valley District School Board education director Mark Fisher, describing the walks through the school to test and rejig plans. “We’re talking a lot theoretically about what needs to be in place. But for us to put these things practically into operation, we need to test them out.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have announced plans for their youngest learners to return to school full time, with COVID-19 precautions. “We’ve learned a lot by having schools open for more students in June, as well as how to keep students and staff safe,” according to a statement from B.C.‘s Ministry of Education. “From these lessons, combined with the work the steering committee will undertake throughout the summer, and guidance from the provincial health officer – the goal is to have as many students back in school as safely possible come September.
Patrick Maze, head of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, said his members are growing anxious about the lack of preparation for a return to school. He said that government is relying on school divisions instead of taking the lead on safety measures. She said that public health has been working closely with local school boards, and that “parents should be reassured that experts ... are thinking about this, and are very concerned about keeping children out of school any longer than they need to be."
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