B.C. exploring options for reopening schools

Province has yet to set timelines

British Columbia’s Education Minister Rob Fleming wants to learn from other provinces and jurisdictions before starting to reopen schools in the province.

A number of scenarios are being considered for what would be a controlled and measured return to classrooms, Fleming said, adding that no timelines have been set.

Most in- class teaching was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 49,000 people in Canada and led to a massive shutdown across the country to try and manage the crisis.

Many students have been studying remotely during this time.

In B.C. about 23,000 computers and devices have been loaned to families along with technical support. Printed material and flash drives have also been delivered to students in remote areas without access to the internet.

However, several thousand children whose parents are essential service workers have been attending schools and there are plans to accommodate more of them, Fleming said.

“We are monitoring and learning from ... other jurisdictions,” he said. “This will help us here in British Columbia inform an evidence- based plan for B. C. which minimizes the risk of COVID-19 transmission when the conditions are appropriate,” Fleming said.

Stephanie Higginson, B. C. School Trustees Association president, said parents need to be kind to themselves during this time.

“As a working parent of two young school- aged children myself, I keep reminding myself that I am not my child’s teacher — I am their parent,” said Higginson. “So please don’t be too hard on yourself. What you are doing is good enough. Thank you for your patience and your adaptability at this time.”

According to Fleming, a total of 20,000 teachers are now using Zoom video conferencing to instruct 275,000 students across the province.

The ministry is discussing programs to help students who may need help from speech and language pathologists, he said.

And programs that address food insecurity for students continue, with 75,000 meals delivered each week to 16,000 students.

As of April 27, there were a total of 1,998 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B. C. Of those, 1,190 people had recovered, 103 had died, and 97 remain in hospital. A total of 20 care homes continue to grapple with active outbreaks.