Vegreville Parent Attends Project Safe September Rally

Vegreville Parent Attends Project Safe September Rally

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Vegreville parent Dane Woychuk joined other parents, teachers, and community members to express their concerns about Alberta’s back to school plan at a rally that took place in front of MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk’s Fort Saskatchewan satellite office on Aug. 21.

Woychuk said Project Safe September is part of a province-wide action focused on having the Provincial Government reconsider re-opening schools in September.

He said the Kenney government’s back-toschool re-entry plan could be greatly improved and has several concerns about the plan as his child will be starting Grade 7 at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Vegreville on Sept. 1.

Ideally, he would like the start of school to be pushed back. “If only to give teachers enough time to adequately have their classrooms prepared and all the necessary tools are in place…

And while it may not be an issue in some of the rural schools, I know it’s going to be near impossible for there to be safe social distancing enforced in classes with 30 or more kids.

I know with my child’s own school they are doing a staggered re-entry from September 1st to 4th and then going back to “business as usual” September 8th. I honestly don’t think that will be enough time, even with teachers now going in making sure their classrooms and projected enrolment can safely be obtained.

My main concerns are the class sizes not being capped. In order for there to be safe social distancing for students and teachers, I fully agree with capping class sizes to a maximum of 15 students.

I am also concerned with the lack of support staff being available in schools…As well as having the teachers rely on their own cleaning of rooms is in my opinion not a good idea… Hiring additional teachers, EAs, custodians, and counselors/family support workers are just as critical as making sure that proper precautions are taken to limit the spread of germs.”

MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk said she was unable to attend the protest due to prior commitments, but said, she believes deeply in the right of freedom of speech. “Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students has guided all decision-making around school re-entry since we first cancelled in-person classes in March.”

She went on to say, “We understand that Albertans want what is best for their children as they return to school this fall, and that is why we continue to follow the expert medical advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health, who approved our school re-entry plan.

The plan also has support from our school superintendents and school boards and was developed in consultation with them. The Education Minister will continue to work with Dr. Hinshaw and our stakeholders, and school boards will adjust their guidelines as they see necessary.

To achieve this cap, Alberta would have to hire 13,000 more teachers by September…Additionally, we simply do not have the facilities required to meet a cap of 15 students per class. Just like with the teachers, we would also require roughly 13,000 more classrooms across Alberta by September. Which is not attainable.”

As far as personal protective equipment, she said every K-12 student and staff member will be provided with two reusable cloth masks. “Alberta’s government will also distribute approximately 466,000 litres of hand sanitizer to all school authorities, provide every school with two contactless, grade thermometers, and will issue every staff member one reusable face shield. We are confident that all of our PPE will arrive prior to the beginning of the school year.”

She recommends teachers work with their administration and local school boards to address any concerns they have with the duties they are being assigned. “That being said, full funding was restored to school authorities on July 1st following the temporary funding adjustments to supports Alberta’s COVID-19 response. If school authorities are not restoring services or hiring the staff they require, they are doing this despite receiving their full funding amounts and also receiving an increase in funding and have more flexibility where those funds are spent for the upcoming school year.

School boards have the ability to delay or stagger school start dates should they decide that is in their local best interest and needs, she added.