Back to school they go!

The Government of Alberta announced last week that schools in the province would be opening in September. During a press conference on July 21, Alberta Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange said that school days would look “mostly the same” as before COVID-19 but with some modifications. “Alberta Health has provided thorough guidance for scenario one. It covers a wide array of details, big and small, and offers suggested alternatives,” she said. Additions include placing hand sanitizer at the entrances of schools and classrooms, frequently cleaning surfaces, grouping students in cohorts, and planning the school day to allow for physical distancing.

She provided a specific example by saying that music classes would prefer string instruments used over wind instruments and that each school would have its own plan to allow for physical distancing. “I want to stress that we are determined to do everything we can possibly do to safely return students to class, however, we will continue to adjust protocols as required on the advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health, and in consultation with the education system.”

Premier Jason Kenney also spoke about adjusting the protocols as the situation changes. “These protocols will be reviewed regularly as new evidence emerges, and any changes necessary for protecting students and staff will be incorporated. Let me be clear, the situation, in terms of the protocols, may evolve over time,” he said. “This does not mean there will be no cases in school. It means rather that we have calculated the relative risks of reopening against the risks of continued closures, and we’ve made the best decision to serve the public interest.”

During the press conference, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, explained that “there are no easy choices in front of us” and that as a parent herself, she understands the worry. “We know that extended school closures negatively impact children’s overall long term mental, emotional and physical health. I want to stress that there is no risk-free approach to living with COVID-19, yet we still have to learn to live with it.”

Hinshaw said that the measures include having students and staff monitor their symptoms daily and staying at home if they feel unwell. “Students and staff may choose to wear a mask and should be supported in choices to do so. We recognize how difficult masking would be for many students, especially at the lower elementary grades, which is why we are not relying on any single public health measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the school setting.”

Minister LaGrange said that to help parents prepare for what to expect in the new school year, they have created a “Return to School Tool Kit,” which includes videos, a parent’s guide and other pertinent information. “Parents and schools can find the toolkit on www.alberta.ca/returntoschool. I encourage parents to take the time to talk to their children about what school will look like in the fall and to watch the informative videos with them.”

She also explained that the recently announced funding was helping school officials prepare to open their doors. “We recently announced $250 million in additional accelerated capital school funding available to school boards. Some chose to use that new funding to complete projects that will help support a COVID-19 learning environment. The upgrades include handsfree sinks, touchless soap and towel dispensers and automatic doors, just to name a few.” She mentioned that the Edmonton Catholic School Division is utilizing funding to replace water fountains with water bottle filling stations.

LaGrange said that if someone tests positive for COVID-19 that a public health team would investigate it. “Parents will be notified if there is a confirmed case in their school.” She added that officials would contact those that were near the person. Should there be an outbreak, Alberta Education will work with school authorities to decide on transitioning to partial in-class learning or at-home learning. “Decisions will be based on multiple factors, including the number of cases in a community or school, and the risk of ongoing transmission, and it will be made by our government.”

Jo-Anne Lanctot, Superintendent with Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42, said that they were anticipating an announcement about reopening on August 1 but that she is pleased to have earlier notice. “It will give our staff, students, and schools more time to prepare and refine our plans for the 2020/2021 school year. It will also allow families to support their children as they transition back to school in the fall.”

Parents with students in Ecole St. Mary’s and Ecole St. Joseph will be happy to know that staff are hard at work to get things ready. “By working together and establishing clear protocols and standards, and maintaining a culture of accountability for all, I am confident that we will be able to welcome everyone back to buildings that are safe and healthy,” said Lanctot. She added that they have been working on their re-entry plan for the past couple of months and that they will refine it with the latest announcement. “We will provide it to our families in early August.”

Local schools will be following the protocols mentioned earlier in the article, including frequent handwashing, new signage, and sanitation stations. Lanctot said that they have also removed excess furniture to increase space so that physical distancing is easier. “The parent toolkit is a valuable resource for all who want to know more about some of the practices that will be instituted at our schools.” She said that she is excited to return in the fall.

“When there are staff and students in our buildings connecting, learning, and celebrating the fundamental purpose of schools, they become vibrant hubs of a community. Is it going to be different? Yes, and it will require the efforts of everyone to ensure that we have a successful restart to the new year, in a new normal, and we will be ready,” said Lanctot. “Our division looks forward to working with all staff, students and families as we prepare to return to school in the 2020/2021 school year. It will take the concerted efforts of our entire community to ensure that our schools are vibrant, healthy, and safe for our students and staff. Together we can do it!”