ETSB schools opening May 13

Eight per cent require daycare service;

53 per cent of those returning transportation.

The distribution of students across the territory ranges between 13 and 56 per cent attendance depending on the school.

Regarding transportation, up to 80 per cent of bus drivers will return to the job for the board’s eastern sector. Some will have a different route than they normally cover. The ETSB will provide full protective equipment for the drivers as well as hand sanitizer for the students as they board.

As for the western sector, which has shared transportation and drivers are contracted separately, no agreement has yet been reached for bussing to schools in that area.

Lennoxville, Granby and Sherbrooke were three of the areas identified where transportation will be a challenge to coordinate.

Regarding staffing, the board received 116 requests for exemptions from work for medical reasons.

In elementary schools, an average of 79 per cent of employees will be returning to work. That ranges between 57 per cent to 100 per cent presence of staff among the 20 schools.

While most schools have sufficient space to meet social distancing requirements, Drummondville Elementary, where a high percentage of students will be returning, was identified as a school where space will be an issue.

While the plan is to move ahead, Interim Director General Michel Soucy pointed out that four criteria must be met before schools can reopen:

Sufficient staff in a school according to grouping; Sufficient space to safely welcome students; Transportation department must have time to create new bus routes;

Staff must have access to required protective gear and cleaning products.

If any one of the four criteria are not met, the board reserves the right to delay an opening, or if a school has already opened, to close until the conditions are met.

Regarding protective gear and supplies, the board is on pace with acquisitions, Soucy said. They currently have close to half of the equipment required which includes visors, procedure masks, coveralls, gowns, different types of cleaners and sanitizers, washable masks, latex gloves, N95 masks, thermometers, microfiber cloths, and plexiglass dividers and sheets.

There is a protocol in place in the event a student should present with COVID-19 symptoms. They will be isolated in a designated area of a school and a kit with full protective equipment will be made available to a staff member accompanying the student. Parents will then be called, and the public health department will be contacted to report the situation. Health officials will then continue the follow up and investigation.

According to Soucy, resources will be made available to train ETSB staff how to properly use personal protective equipment. He added that there are tutorials available online for masks, gloves, gowns and visors.

Students are not required to wear masks, but any parents who wish to provide one for their child is welcome to do so. asked for

Before going to a vote about the plan to reopen schools, ETSB Chairman Michael Murray restated some of the key aspects of the plan.

“It must happen sometime, it won’t get any easier,” Murray said, adding that re-opening schools in September with fully loaded busses and classes wouldn’t be a great way to start.

Murray said the board acknowledges the risk, pointing out that the premier’s assertion that hospitals have beds available is a clear signal the government anticipates a surge in hospitalizations. He added the plan to reopen schools includes few to no educational activities.

The chairman described the plan as a process to evaluate needs. “We’ll learn what measures work,” he said, adding, “reality will override guidelines. We’ll manage the situation best way possible.”

Murray added schools may choose to restore breakfast and lunch programs where possible.

During question period, Appalachian Teachers’ Association President Megan Seline asked the board how the CNESST’S safety checklist for schools would be applied. Interim Assistant Director General and Human Resources Director Jeff Pauw said the board received the instructions and guide, and it will be forwarded to all school administrators to make sure safety protocols are followed. An English translation is in the works, Pauw added.

Seline also asked if a student who does not respect social distancing would be removed from school. The board replied if necessary, then yes, but the first step would be to make efforts to educate and support the student.

One parent in attendance supported the board’s decision to reopen schools.

A handful of teachers and meeting were less enthusiastic.

“I’m not sure commissioners are aware that school administrators are emotional and nervous, and continue to have a lot of concerns,” one principal said. Referring to a planning meeting, “There were people holding back and breaking down in tears,” she said, adding that a survey among administrators demonstrated 91.7 per cent did not feel ready to reopen schools and 67 per cent indicated a lack of support from the board.

“Can admins count on more concrete support?” she asked, saying they are frightened for the safety of students and staff.

“It’s not the picture of preparedness people are getting.”

“We are all in same state of stress and concern,” Murray replied, acknowledging administrators are being tasked with considerable burdens.

“We have to open sometime. I can’t imagine it being easier at any future date,” Murray said, hoping the two additional days of preparation and the criteria for opening will help alleviate some of the stress.

“It may be creating more problems than it’s solving, but we have a strong team, we’ll be ready no matter what,” another principal commented, regarding the two-day delay.

When asked if the board’s unanimous vote was cast with the knowledge 91.7 per cent of administrators didn’t feel ready, Murray said principals in the the board had been extensively briefed. “I’ll refer you back to our original statement. It’s not going to get any easier. We’re going ahead now because this is as good as it’s going to get. The alternative is not to do it at all,” Murray said.

“The bottom line is, for teachers in the elementary sector, they have now become the foot soldiers of public, they will be the first to go down. Despite all the safeguards, there is a fear for their own lives, and a fear for he lives of their family members,” one teacher said, asking how the board would recognize that courage.

Murray, applauding the work done by teachers on a daily basis, said it was too soon to consider a formal recognition as of yet.

During the exchanges with teachers and administrators, Murray admitted that for some elementary-aged students the protocols in place were unrealistic and suggested a flexibility based on the judgment of school staff.

“We rely on our professionals to do the right thing rather than the literal thing,” Murray said.

One principal in the meeting was not comfortable with that responsibility.

“This has been hardest thing I have ever done in my career,” the principal said. “I applaud everyone. This level of anxiety is something I’ve never experienced before. It’s quite frightening to see that,” she said. “Today, what I’m seeing is an incredibly wonderful team that is going to make it work because we have no other choice,” she commented.

“Unless I understood wrong, we were given rules by public health. Six-foot guidelines, the students have to stay in classrooms, no hot meals, no cafeteria, I’m bringing in muffins,” she said, adding lunches will be brought in for students in need. “I’m not about to tell teachers now that they can relax rules,” the principal said, adding that if something were to happen, “I would never forgive myself.”

She also made the board aware that teachers, in addition to the stress of COVID-19, face a heavy workload and many will be on double duty, teaching at school and online. “That has to be known.”