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CBE 'recommends' masks for teachers and students in strategy to reopen schools

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The Calgary Board of Education has released its back-to-school protocols, which include increased cleaning of high touch surfaces, asking students to physically distance where possible and encouraging the use of masks.

There is also an online learning hub offered for any students who are not comfortable returning to in-person classes.

But no strategies are in place to reduce class sizes after weeks of concern from parents and teachers about how students and staff can possibly physically distance in classrooms of 30 or more.

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“Physical distancing ‘whenever possible’ is a big concern. How do you do that with the class sizes that teachers have,” said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

“But whenever possible is really everywhere — it would be possible if the province would just address class sizes with the right funding. This is the opportunity they have to do what’s right.”

CBE chief superintendent Chris Usih stressed that protocols are still fluid but he is open to considering any number of creative approaches to physically distance students in crowded schools, including looking at moving them to more spacious, inner-city schools.

“There are a number of complexities around that, such as transportation, but we are looking at all options and things may change over time,” he said.

The CBE will also consider moving students into larger spaces within schools, such as libraries and gymnasiums, and also more outdoor education.

The CBE is offering continued online learning for all students at all grade levels through a hub learning platform, allowing anyone who is uncomfortable with returning to in-person classes to stay home.

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Sarah Bieber, spokeswoman for the Kids Come First parent advocacy group, was happy to see that parents at least have a choice between allowing kids to go back or stay at home.

“There are factors related to health of students beyond COVID, particularly mental-health factors. But Scenario 1 (return to class) along with the online hub option provides families with the opportunity to accept the level of risk they are comfortable with, while also allowing parents to work and maximizing educational opportunities for students”

The online option could also reduce in-class enrolment and may allow for smaller class sizes, said Joanne Pitman, CBE superintendent of school improvement.

Students who choose to attend school will begin sometime during the week of Sept. 1, with each school expected to stagger entry over three days to teach students about new safety protocols.

Among those will be strict handwashing regimens, required before arriving at school, whenever leaving or returning to the classroom, and before leaving at the end of the day.

The CBE is also looking deeper into its budget to support extra cleaning of schools by custodial staff, and promise to purchase sanitary wipes and hand sanitizers for classrooms so that teachers don’t have to.

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Students in earlier grades will be placed into “cohorts,” according to the statement released on the CBE website at noon Thursday, reducing the risk of exposure in smaller groups of students.

In junior high, where students typically move around the school to different teachers in specific subject areas, CBE schools will now look to have only teachers moving around the school to their students.

“In many school plans, teachers will be moving as opposed to the classes to limit cross movement as much as possible,” Pitman said.

But in high schools — where class sizes often range from 35 to 40 students, hallways are crowded and students travel to four different classes and teachers everyday — the CBE is only so far planning to create seating plans and prevent students from wandering during spares.

The CBE has made no decision on mandating masks, only recommending them as they await further updates from the province.

And quarantine protocols are also not outlined — what happens when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, who would be considered their close contacts, and who would have to quarantine along with the positive case.

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The CBE said they will get guidance from Alberta Health Services, with the protocol stating, “the decision to send a cohort/class home or to close a school will be made by the local medical officer of health. If students are required to self-isolate, the school will support students to learn or work at home.”

If students are symptomatic during the school day, CBE schools will have to provide a private room, or “infirmary,” for that student until they can be picked up, which will be the only time students will have to wear a mask.

The CBE protocol states: “The only time your child will be required to wear a mask at school is if they become ill. In that case, your child will be given a disposable mask to wear until parents can come to pick them up.”

But there were no specifics as to what happens if those infirmaries are filled up on a day when more than one or two students are exhibiting flu-like or respiratory symptoms.

In smaller classes, or less-crowded schools, the CBE strategy suggests that “workspaces and desks will be separated from each other by two metres where and when possible.

“If two metres cannot be arranged between desks/tables, students should be arranged so they are not facing each other (e.g. arranged in rows rather than in small groups or a semi-circle).​​​”

Larger gatherings such as school assemblies will be avoided, and barriers or partitions may be placed in larger gathering areas or common spaces.

Last week, Premier Jason Kenney announced all K-12 schools can fully reopen for in-person classes in September, but directed each school district to come up with its own plan to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.

eferguson@postmedia.com

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