Strict protocols priority, parents tell schools

Demand high for safety rules as province aims to release plan before August

Parents are eager to get kids back to school this fall, but only with new safety protocols including increased access to hand washing, smaller classes and strict monitoring of COVID -19 symptoms among students and staff.

According to feedback collected from nearly 3,000 parents with the Calgary Catholic School District, schools must prioritize several ways to reduce risk and spread of the virus by creating a culture of safety through social distancing, staying home when feeling ill and increased cleanliness of schools.

As a result, CCSD officials have developed a video that details what a typical school might look like this fall, including separated desks, stickers on floors to ensure distancing, and additional hand-sanitizing stations, not just in washrooms, but in hallways, at school entry points and in classrooms.

“We know that the best teaching and learning happens face to face. As humans, we need those connections, and we know our students are thirsting for those connections,” said Brian Szumlas, chief superintendent with CCSD.

“So we want to do what we can. But we also want to keep safety and security of our students as our top priority.”

In the video, Szumlas and administrative staff take viewers through a tour of a school and different classrooms. Hand sanitizers are stationed at the entry point of classrooms with large colourful signs to remind students to use them.

Desks and tables are spaced out by at least two metres, with some desks facing open windows to help students get fresh air.

Bright stickers are also used throughout the school’s flooring, reminding students to stand at least two metres away from each other as they line up to leave or enter the classroom, or to stand back of the teacher’s desk when they line up to ask a question.

In the hallways, arrows are stuck to the floors guiding students to walk in only one direction close to one wall or walking in the other direction beside the opposite wall, ensuring there is enough space between students in the middle of hallways.

At the school’s entry and office area, there are also additional hand sanitizer stations and stickers ensuring visitors clean hands upon entering the school and stand two metres back of the office counter.

Alberta Education announced several weeks ago the ministry is considering three scenarios for a return to school this fall: back to school as normal, continued online learning, or back to school with restrictions.

While there has been no announcement about which option the province will choose, the ministry and some school districts are connecting with parents to measure their willingness to return to school under certain levels of risk.

Colin Aitchison, press secretary with Alberta Education Minister Adriana Lagrange, confirmed the province’s aim is to finalize and release a plan before Aug. 1.

The province is in continuing discussions with several partners — including parent associations, teachers and Alberta Health Services — as to what a return to school could look like.

“Once a plan has been finalized we will communicate to both the education system and the public. School authorities will be provided with enough time to prepare their schools as we transition into the 2020-21 school year.”

Terri Daprocida, who has three kids in the Calgary Catholic system, says all parents want stricter safety protocols before students go back, and possibly staggered entry days to reduce class sizes.

“I want the kids back in school, but I don’t want them back without very strict guidelines,” she said. “I still worry about the pandemic.”

Some parents even want the option of touring schools to see how cleanliness and safety protocols will be implemented.

Support Our Students Alberta sent an open letter to the education minister last week asking for school tours to be a mandatory part of the relaunch plan.

“Parents, kids, teachers and many support staff want classes to resume, but they want to do it safely,” said Carolyn Blasetti, provincial executive director for SOS.

“Our kids can’t be part of some giant experiment. How do parents know their school is prioritizing student and education worker safety when re-entry is allowed?

“School tours must be part of any relaunch strategy to ensure parents, students and staff are comfortable,” Blasetti said.

In addition to basic social-distancing and cleanliness protocols, SOS has outlined more detailed conditions for schools, including sufficient supplies of PPE for school staff, dedicated isolation rooms for students or staff experiencing an onset of COVID-19 symptoms, as well as full-time school psychologists and school nurses to ensure physical and mental well-being of students.

“This government has talked a lot about job creation during this crisis,” said Barb Silva, Calgary spokeswoman for SOS. “How about nurses and psychologists in every school, how about creating those kinds of jobs, to keep people safe?”

The province has not yet outlined any additional costs of safety protocols like smaller classes, additional cleaning staff or PPE equipment.

Instead, both school boards were forced to pass budgets in the past week with funding shortfalls.

The CBE began surveying parents Friday on back-to-school options, passing a $1.4-billion budget earlier this week. With a $48-million funding shortfall, the CBE budget assumes only a return-as-normal scenario.

Meanwhile, the CCSD approved a $618-million budget with a $4.9-million shortfall, balanced mainly through a draw on reserves.

CCSD officials added their budget takes into account all three return to school scenarios, factoring in costs associated with additional staff to support students and the provision of personal protective equipment.