The Delta school district has provided parents with an update on what to expect when students and teachers return to class in September after their summer break.
Following an earlier announcement from the B.C. Government on COVID-19 planning for the return to school in September, Doug Sheppard, Delta’s superintendent of schools, issued a notice that parents can expect the next school year will be much closer to normal with students in class, full-time.
Based on guidance from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, students will no longer be in learning groups or cohorts in September, explained Sheppard.
“Pending further public health guidance, it is also expected that current restrictions on gatherings, extra-curricular activities and sports will be relaxed in time for the new school year. Students and staff will be required to continue to complete daily health checks, to stay home when feeling sick and to practice diligent hand hygiene. Guidance on mask-wearing in school settings will be confirmed later this summer,” explained Sheppard.
The Ministry of Education is currently working with the provincial K-12 education steering committee and public health officials to review the health and safety measures, noted Sheppard, adding they anticipate receiving updated health and safety measures for the return to school later in August and will share more information at that time.
The province noted that research has shown schools were not significant sources of COVID-19 transmission.
Public health teams and school health officers will continue to closely monitor cases of COVID-19 in schools and the community, the government stated, adding they will continue to provide support and guidance as schools return in the fall.
In response, the Delta Teachers’ Association stated it’s pleased with BC’s Recovery Investment Plan announcement including additional funds for health and safety, First Nations and Métis students, mental health services and to address learning impacts to students.
DTA president Susan Yao said a valuable lesson has been learned when it comes to having enough cleaning measures and custodial support in schools.
Delta’s teacher absences were lower this year compared to other years, she noted.
“Is this the upshot of the additional funds that were available for cleaning as part of the pandemic response? We know that the district hired more custodial staff and that schools were cleaned more often than in recent years,” said Yao. “Better funding for B.C.’s education system, arguably among the lowest funding in Canada, is sorely needed.
“Spending less for education is a false economy — when districts spend less money on cleaning schools, more people get will get sick and more will need to access sick leave. If this is true during COVID, how is it less true at other times? While the DTA supports the additional one-time funding, it should be more than a one-time thing. With more appropriate funding for cleaning in this example, teachers and other education staff tend towards wellness, easing the current shortages of teachers and other staff.”
