School Districts across the province have unveiled their back to school plans

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School Districts across the province have unveiled their back to school plans and many of the new rules apply to all. Elementary students will receive in class instruction 100 per cent of the time, while high school students will spent three quarters of their time in a classroom, with the remainder online. Neither masks nor physical distancing will be required within learning groups. But classrooms will be set up to ensure the maximum distance possible between students. Hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies will be in all classrooms. There will be staggered times for pick up, drop off, lunches and breaks. Students will bring their own supplies and take them home daily...there will be no lockers used this year. Each student will get two reusable masks. Classrooms will be cleaned twice a day and deep cleanings in schools will happen at night. BC's Minister of Education, Rob Flemming, says the plans are blueprints for a new normal.

”There's no question, as we all know, that schools are going to look very different than they did before the pandemic began or even in June. And that's why I encourage all families to visit their local school district's website, to find out the details of their local plans.” -Rob Flemming
High school students in the Nanaimo Ladysmith School District will take two courses for ten weeks, before switching to two new courses for the next ten weeks and so on. Elementary school classes will be limited to 30 students, with a maximum of 60 in a single learning group. But there is uncertainty over when elementary school students will be assigned to their classrooms and learning groups Superintendent Scott Saywell says a spike in new student enrollment means students may not be in their permanent classrooms by their first day on September the 10th.

"That is a bit of our challenge. We have a lot of work to do over the next number of days before schools start up." -Superintendent Scott Saywell

The plan says those students may start with more online and remote activities until intake meetings and registration has stabilized. The District does not yet have a transportation plan for highschool students on Gabriola, who have to travel off island to attend class. And, two schools, Cilaire Elementary and Ladysmith Intermediate have classrooms with no ventilation so in the short term, that means turning up the heat and opening up the windows. Despite the uncertainties, School Board Chair Charlene McKay believes issues will be resolved by engaging with parents.

"I think that we're going to continue our conversations and look at what our community might be needing, after they've had a chance to review it and then the board will be able to take that into consideration and make any local adjustments that they need to.” -School Board Chair Charlene McKay

Parents will receive specific plans for their childrens' schools via email in the coming days. The Board's next virtual meeting is on September the 2nd.
The survey for seniors and their families can be taken online, by phone or through the mail. It is open until September the 30th and Mackenzie expects to have recommendations for the future of care home visits in October.