School divisions faced with three scenarios for return to school

ATHABASCA - As spring creeps along and summer looms, school divisions across the province are looking to the fall and wondering what teaching and learning will look like. will look like. 

Alberta Education has not told the school divisions what to expect and are holding off until August 1 to let them know how schools are expected to be run. Right now though, everything is a guessing game with three potential scenarios, said Aspen View Public Schools board chair Candy Nikipelo. 

“August 1 is the date that we've been given that they will try to make their final decision,” she said. “I think the government and the health authorities are trying to make the best-case scenario, what they think that summer is going to be and how much the curve has been flattened.” 

Given the uncertainty of whether Albertans will continue to follow social distancing protocols even as businesses open back up, there is a concern of a second wave as the warm weather lures people outside where they find themselves with more of a chance of having to socialize.

“I think we need to be prepared for different scenarios in the fall and it wouldn't surprise me if school will not be resuming in the fall,” Nikipelo said. 

She added that even with the potential changes required by schools to keep students safe, she expects the 2020-2021 school year to start on time. 

“I can't see them pushing back a start date; I think they're basically telling school divisions to be prepared,” Nikipelo explained. "I think (Supt.) Neil O'Shea has kind of said nobody's taking holidays in August. So, it's all hands on deck to prep the schools for the two scenarios. 

The first scenario is going back to status quo with all students attending, but adding personal protective equipment like masks and hand sanitizer or handwashing stations. The second may require the student body to be divided in half with some attending one day and the rest the next. A third option is not opening the schools at all, which calls for no preparations. 

“We're expected to really kind of be prepared for any of those three scenarios that they gave us. So, come August 1, when that decision is finally made, I know school divisions are going to be doing a whole lot of scrambling because there is going to be special protocols in place,” she added. 

If scenario two happens, "It'd be a transportation nightmare,” Nikipelo said. “I have no idea how that would work in rural Alberta, maybe a little bit easier in the metros, but pretty darn tough with our busing.”

Nikipelo also has been watching Quebec where only 20 per cent of the students went back when schools opened May 25.  

"That's making it double for the teachers, because not only are the teachers having to prepare for the classroom students, there's still going be a good percentage of families that aren't comfortable enough and they want to access an online learning,” she said. “So, I can only see it being more taxing on the teachers. I hope when that decision is made, that (Alberta Education) takes all of that into account.” 

If the worst-case scenario of not opening the doors is enacted, then other worries arise for Nikipelo, like students who do not have the supports or access to what they need to continue with continuity of learning. 

“If we're mandated to not open our doors in the fall the public is going to have a hard time with it; already it's difficult for a lot of parents to be carrying out the educational responsibilities,” she said. “Some (students) are acing it but some are struggling so bad and you worry about the future of those kids. You worry about what next year is going to look like.” 

"The government has told us that every child from Grade 9 down will be passing on to the next grade. We do know students that haven't continued on with their education journey this year and how on Earth will they be ready to face next year?” 

Even securing enough personal protective equipment could be difficult, and the money for that has not been confirmed as yet Nikipelo said. 

“I've sat in on a Zoom with the education minister and the government kind of did say that they would aid in the securing of any PPE and special things. So, that was one of my takeaways; that they wouldn't leave the school divisions high and dry because we all know that all of that stuff is a hot commodity,” she stated. “If the kids are made to wear face masks or whatever, that's got to come from somewhere.” 

Right now, Aspen View is focusing on getting their students through their courses and hope to have something special for the COVID-19-impacted students of 2020. 

“I think we're going try to host some kind of a graduation ceremony for all of our students in the fall,” Nikipelo said. “Who knows what that's going to even look like, but I think each school's individually coming up with some kind of nice ceremony for their students.” 

Beyond the few things they can control though, every school district is waiting for August 1 to know what the new world will look like. 

“Everybody's fearful of what the new normal is going to be and, you know, we weren't prepared for this big change,” Nikipelo said. “And why would you be? Who would have thought we would be in this position? I think our entire world is forever changed.”