Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #SafeSeptemberAB
Most recents (16)
Keeping students, teachers and staff safe should have been a bi-partisian effort and I wish that the UCP government took our recommendations into consideration and did the hard work over the summer for a Safe September.
#abed #safeseptemberab
#abed #safeseptemberab
In July, we presented the UCP government with a detailed plan for re-opening, 'Safe Schools, Successful Students'. The plan contained 15 recommendations to protect students, families, staff and communities.
The first recommendation was to cap class sizes at 15 so that two-metre physical distancing could be possible.
albertandp.ca/safe-school-re…
albertandp.ca/safe-school-re…
In July, we presented the UCP government with a detailed plan for re-opening, 'Safe Schools, Successful Students'. The plan contained 15 recommendations to protect students, families, staff and communities.
#abed #ableg #safeseptemberab
#abed #ableg #safeseptemberab
The first recommendation was to cap class sizes at 15 so that two-metre physical distancing could be possible.
#yyc #yeg #yql #ymm
#yyc #yeg #yql #ymm
The UCP had time.
The UCP had advice.
The UCP did not act.
You can download a copy of the report here:
albertandpcaucus.ca/public/downloa…
The UCP had advice.
The UCP did not act.
You can download a copy of the report here:
albertandpcaucus.ca/public/downloa…
We have formally asked Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner to direct the Minister of Education to release hidden documents related to school re-entry.
#ableg #abed #abpoli #safeseptemberab
#ableg #abed #abpoli #safeseptemberab
We made three requests under the Freedom of Information Act for documents that include correspondence with teachers, superintendents and school districts about school re-entry planning, as well as internal discussion about these messages and prominent media coverage.
The Minister’s Office claims that none of these records exist. Even the ones we were cc'd on.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange must emerge from hiding today and answer eight key questions about her mishandling of school re-entry.
#ableg #abpoli #safeseptemberAB #abed
#ableg #abpoli #safeseptemberAB #abed
There are 48 schools with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, and six with multiple cases, but LaGrange has refused to attend any of Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s daily updates since school resumed.
“It’s an abject failure of leadership for the Education Minister to hide from scrutiny during the most challenging back-to-school season in living memory."
-@shoffmanAB, NDP Official Opposition Critic for Education
-@shoffmanAB, NDP Official Opposition Critic for Education
A couple months ago, concerned we weren't seeing the preparation needed for a #SafeSeptemberAB, we offered up a 15 point plan to help ensure schools didn't re-open just to shut down again.
#abed #ableg
albertandp.ca/safe-school-re…
#abed #ableg
albertandp.ca/safe-school-re…
With cases of COVID-19 confirmed in at least 20 schools, we strongly urges the government to act immediately, cap class sizes, and physically distance Alberta students.
The Premier claimed this isn’t about money, and that if we needed additional resources to ensure the safe re-entry of schools that resources would be made available. It’s time for him to keep that promise.
THREAD: My speech at the groundbreaking of the new École à la Découverte in Elsinore-Chambery & to Ed Minister LaGrange:
It’s a pleasure to join you on the traditional territory of Treaty Six & of the Metis people. Congratulations to the École à la Découverte community 1/ #ableg
It’s a pleasure to join you on the traditional territory of Treaty Six & of the Metis people. Congratulations to the École à la Découverte community 1/ #ableg
This is an important milestone in a long journey towards a building that can accommodate all of the students that want to learn here. Many young families are choosing to live in North #YEG, Castle Downs in particular & Im so happy that they will have a new Francophone school 2/
to serve them. Many of those students have parents who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces & many of those members have come to AB from Francophone communities elsewhere in Canada. ItS so important to our military community & our broader community, that we have strong 3/
Alberta’s NDP Official Opposition is calling on Education Minister Adriana LaGrange to quit delaying the distribution of federal money to school boards and distribute it immediately through the per-pupil grant.
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB #covid19ab
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB #covid19ab
LaGrange’s office stated they would be meeting with some stakeholders on Wednesday - a full week after the federal funding was announced - to discuss how the money would be spent.
“Minister LaGrange needs to quit stalling. We still don’t have any details on how the money will be spent and they are only starting to talk about it a week after the money was announced."
- @shoffmanAB, NDP Education Critic
- @shoffmanAB, NDP Education Critic
Alberta’s NDP Official Opposition is calling on Education Minister Adriana LaGrange to use new federal money to make Alberta schools safe immediately and help protect students, staff, families and communities from COVID-19.
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB
On Wednesday, the federal government announced $2-billion in new funding for school reentry, including $262 million for Alberta.
The Ontario government released a detailed plan for its share of the funding the same day, including additional teaching and custodial staff, PPE, physical distancing on school buses, support for mental health and students with complex needs, and resources for remote learning.
Days before kids go back to school, the UCP government has revised public health orders after risking breaking their own previous orders due to underfunding and overcrowding in schools.
#ableg #abed #SafeSeptemberAB #covid19ab
#ableg #abed #SafeSeptemberAB #covid19ab
On Saturday, Dr. Hinshaw signed a new health order removing the requirement for physical distancing in classrooms. The new order comes just days after Hinshaw told the Public Health Act Review Committee that she does not make decisions but provides advice to UCP cabinet.
NDP Education critic Sarah Hoffman called on Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange to join Dr. Hinshaw at her regular update.
CTV NEWS: NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman is calling on the UCP to work with municipalities and identify public spaces for use by school authorities.
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB #yyc
calgary.ctvnews.ca/ndp-ata-call-o…
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB #yyc
calgary.ctvnews.ca/ndp-ata-call-o…
The temporary classrooms could be created within community centres, libraries and recreational facilities.
"We're in unusual times and we really do believe that it's up to the government to roll up their sleeves, get to work and acquire some additional spaces."
- @shoffmanAB
- @shoffmanAB
The NDP Official Opposition are calling on the UCP government to limit class sizes by using existing empty space to physically distance students.
#ableg #abed #safeseptemberab
#ableg #abed #safeseptemberab
On Wednesday, NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman was joined by Calgary teacher Abbey Curzon to demonstrate how limiting class sizes to 15 can be achieved with the use of a community hall.
“Every day, I’m hearing from parents and teachers who are worried about sending kids back into crowded classrooms of 30 or more students. You can’t properly distance in a classroom like that. It isn’t safe.”
- @shoffmanAB
- @shoffmanAB
David and Linda Coulthard’s granddaughter is headed into a half-day Kindergarten class of 30, with another 30 students using the class in the afternoon.
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB
#abed #ableg #SafeSeptemberAB
“Even a part-time teacher could let them split them into three classes of 20. One full-time teacher would get you to classes of 15. But the government is not providing funds to schools for reasonable classes. It’s totally ludicrous.”
- Linda Coulthard
- Linda Coulthard
“Our granddaughter has a younger sister at home, who had a tough start in life and spent several months at the Stollery, and we don’t want to put her at risk by bringing something home. I’m absolutely furious,” Coulthard said.
This tweet illustrates how much trouble we’re in with the UCP at the helm during a pandemic: the press secretary to the Health Minister thinks that 35 kids packed into a classroom will NOT be in “close contact” with each other. #ableg #abpoli #SafeSeptemberAB #abed #cdnpoli
This kind of wilful blindness is why Albertans have so little confidence in the UCP’s back-to-school (non)plan.
Oh, by the way, it appears Steve is also wrong when he says the virus “doesn’t float in the air.”
The NDP Official Opposition is calling on Premier Jason Kenney to apologize for promoting an opinion piece which gives different advice than Alberta’s public health officials, and which the author attempted to walk back today.
#abed #ableg #abhealth #covid19ab
#abed #ableg #abhealth #covid19ab
In an August 19 column, Dr. Joan Robinson argues that the risks of returning to school are low, and makes several arguments that contradict public health advice given to Albertans for the past six months. Kenney and the UCP caucus have promoted this column on social media.
“Every Albertan who read that opinion piece was left scratching their head at the idea that COVID-19 isn’t transmitted between people in the same room,” said @shoffmanAB, NDP Official Opposition Critic for Education.
Short Thread 👇
Lets call a spade a spade. School is important. I want to see schools reopened also. But safely.
But what's not being said enough, is that part of the agenda driving schools to reopen, is to get parents back to work. 1/
Lets call a spade a spade. School is important. I want to see schools reopened also. But safely.
But what's not being said enough, is that part of the agenda driving schools to reopen, is to get parents back to work. 1/
I don't expect our government to say this, but in additions to building the foundations for our kids future, teachers also don't get the recognition they deserve in carrying our economy. Lets not pretend this isn't at least part of the UCP agenda in reopening schools. 2/
This makes it even more vitally important we do this right. In addition to our kids not being guinea pigs, it's just shortsighted to throw them back in school and hope for the best.
COVID doesn't care if our economy is suffering. 3/
COVID doesn't care if our economy is suffering. 3/
The Opposition joined teachers in a makeshift classroom to demonstrate that maintaining proper physical distancing in schools will be impossible without more funding from Kenney for additional teachers, support staff and physical space.
#ableg #abed #abpoli #SafeSeptemberAB
#ableg #abed #abpoli #SafeSeptemberAB
The classroom, set up by the NDP in the Edmonton Federal Building, attempted to fit 30 spaces for students in a standard-sized elementary classroom (defined as about 860 square feet of usable space by Alberta Infrastructure).
At best, it was determined that 18-20 spaces could safely fit in the classroom with two metres of spacing and that’s without accounting for any whiteboards, a teacher’s desk, bookshelves, coat racks and so on.
