INNISFAIL – Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) officials say they are confident schools in their respective divisions will be safe for students, teachers and staff when classes resume next week.
Teachers are calling for the openings to be delayed to address what they say are outstanding issues around class sizes, staffing levels and other matters.
Students are scheduled to return to RDCRS schools on Aug. 31 and CESD schools on Sept. 1, both on staggered schedules, with regular classes beginning about two weeks later.
CESD has 11,000 students in 40 schools; RDCRS includes schools in Olds and Innisfail.
Allan Tarnoczi, the chairman of CESD, says he believes the division’s reopening plan is solid.
“I’m confident going forward that we are going to give those kids a good experience,” said Tarnoczi, a former Sundre school principal. “We are following the advice and direction of the Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw and the Minister of Education and we are committed to following that.
“With this staggered start we want to make sure there is time for teachers and for students to get ready for these big changes, and the staggered start is key to that.”
Both school divisions have re-opening plans in place, plans that include mask use requirements, social distancing protocols, traffic flow in schools, handwashing, illness reporting, and school visitor rules.
CESD and RDCRS will see Grade 4-12 students required to wear non-medical facemasks in common areas and on buses.
Tarnoczi says there are no plans at this time to include K-3 students in that requirement, unlike school divisions in Calgary.
“If she (Hinshaw) directs a changes, we will make that change as quickly as she directs it,” he said.
The division has been keeping track of extra expenses being incurred as a result of the start up, he said.
“We are monitoring our financial situation closely and it could be down the road that we have a need for additional resources,” he said. “We are setting the stage to make sure that we have the data to fully address that question as time goes on.”
Education assistants and bus drivers laid off early in the pandemic are being brought back, he said.
Kathleen Finnigan is the acting superintendent of RDCRS. Like Tarnoczi, she says she believes her division’s restart plan is a good one.
“I am confident that the plan we have in place is going to meet the needs of ensuring the safety of our students, staff and families, and we believe we are ready,” said Finnigan.
“In my opinion we are ready to go. Our principals are well prepared and they will communicate with their staff.
“In terms of the masks and hand sanitizers, yes we have enough resources. If we have to pull in extra personnel, like mental health support, we will have to pull from our existing budget.”
The division is confident that plans in place to deal with outbreaks, should they occur, are also solid and workable, she said.
The Alberta Teachers Association (ATA), which represents 46,000 teachers, has called for the re-start to be delayed until after Sept. 7.
ATA president Jason Schilling told The Albertan he has spoken to teachers across the province, including in CESD and RDCRS, about the matter.
“They are saying that they need a little more time to look at the COVID protocols and see how they are going to deal with that as a staff,” said Schilling. “I’ve been hearing that some don’t have time.
“We have to make sure it is safe. I’d rather be safer and over-prepared than to be under-prepared. Teachers and principals need time to get this right. Time is rapidly running out to see this happen."
The ATA is calling for increased physical distancing through reduced class sizes, and more funding for enhanced staff, protective equipment and HVAC improvements.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says she has consulted with superintendents and others and decided that schools will restart as scheduled.
“I have also had the chance to review all the planned re-entry dates for schools across the province, and I see that time is clearly available to allow teachers to prepare for re-entry before their students arrive,” LaGrange said Friday.
