The Good Spirit School Division has released a bullet-point return-to-school plan, ahead of the upcoming 2021-22 academic year.
Director of Education for the Good Spirit School Division Quinton Robertson says it is a “very preliminary” plan.
“We felt it was really important to get something out to families prior to the middle of August. We have lots of people that are apprehensive, they need to know we do have a plan and that plan will shift if need be, dependent on the local numbers.” Robertson said.
For now, the start of the school year would see a normal return with an emphasis on hand hygiene and sanitization; assigned seating on school buses will continue; personal protective equipment will be available to anyone who chooses to use them; students and staff who are ill are advised to stay home; an isolation area will be available; and extra-curricular activities, such as sports, fitness, dance, drama, band and choir, resuming without restrictions.
The three-tier model that was used during the COVID-19 pandemic will be utilized again, and Robertson says this week they have a meeting with local health officials to determine restrictions for tier 2 should there be a spike in COVID-19 cases in schools.
“Would they be mandated personal protected equipment? Would they be co-horting again? Would we be limiting access to our schools? What would the tier 2 restrictions be and tier 3, of course, would be a full closure of a school or the school division to face-to-face instruction.” Robertson said.
He says one of the biggest lessons learned from the last school year, with the tiered system, was having the ability to respond quickly to situations while being flexible, and the importance of clear communication.
He says the plan should be formalized and released before September 1st.
(Photo credit: Good Spirit School Division)