Teachers allowed ‘critical’ prep time
School start delayed to implement safety protocols and learning pods
The first day of school will be delayed for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students in B.C., allowing teachers, support staff and administrators a few extra days to prepare.
Education Minister Rob Fleming didn’t specify what day students would return, only that it would be later in the week of Sept. 8. He said starting up school safely during a pandemic will require some extra scheduling and logistics, and school operations would need to be finalized and guidelines reviewed.
“Those discussions are ongoing, and we want to respect the advice that we’re getting from organizations like the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, CUPE B.C., the superintendents’ association and principals and vice-principals, among others,” Fleming told reporters on Tuesday.
Fleming said the expectation is that the plan for the first week of school will be consistent across school districts.
Darren Danyluk, president of the B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, said giving teachers and administrative staff time together in the school buildings before students arrive is important for implementing safety protocols and applying the new model.
He suggested at least two days of preparation time before students return.
“That time together is really critical and that’s what we’ve been advocating for,” said Danyluk.
The province’s back-to-school plan for full-time, in-class learning, released on July 29, organizes students into learning groups or pods, which are consistent groups of 60 to 120 staff and students who will be together for classes, lunch breaks, recess, gym, library time and gatherings. The size of the pod will depend on the grade.
It’s expected that model will reduce the risk that COVID-19 can spread widely throughout a school and will allow for easier contact tracing and student isolation if there is an infection.
School board and independent school authorities will have to implement a suite of health and safety measures that meet B.C. Centre for Disease Control guidelines, such as cleaning more frequently and thoroughly, providing hand hygiene stations and staggering class times.
The province will provide masks for all students and staff, but they won’t be required to wear them all day. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said they’ll be used in settings where physical distancing isn’t possible, such as in hallways.
“There is a rule for masks, absolutely, but they are, as I have said, one of the layers of protection that we have, and we’re building in many layers,” Henry said on Monday. “They’re the end of our hierarchy of controls. The least effective of the layers that we need.”
Parents who are uncomfortable sending their children back to in-person classes can register for home-schooling or online learning. Schools will work with students who have health concerns on an individual basis and accommodate them as needed, according to the ministry.
B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Teri Mooring has previously spoken in favour of delaying the start of the school year so teachers have more time to prepare, but neither she nor anyone else from the federation responded to requests for comment.