Thread by @bctf

Teachers want to get back into classrooms and help give our students the best education possible. And, like every other worker, we have a right to be safe. The #bcpoli government's #bced restart plan needs more prevention measures to ensure everyone's safety. Thread:

The #bcpoli government and health officials have done excellent work on enhancing contact tracing strategies, but our #bced members are rightly concerned that not enough has been done on preventing the transmission of the virus in schools.

BC should be pursuing a remote learning model for #bced that would allow for in-class and remote learning, especially for medically complex children. It’s important that this option maintains students’ connection to their local school. #bcpoli

Right across #bced, new timetables are being developed that will see teachers and support staff in classrooms with up to 30 students or more without physical barriers, capacity limits, or face coverings that we have all grown accustomed to in other workplaces like grocery stores.

Physical distancing is not possible in crowded #bced classrooms. The situation will be particularly worrisome in BC’s largest and fastest growing districts that have hundreds of portables. Many BC schools have outdated ventilation systems and classrooms without external windows.

British Columbians have been told that physical distancing is the most effective and important measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and teachers want to do their part. However, the #bced restart plan, even with learning group concept, has made no change to classroom density.

You can’t have a group of thirty 17-year-olds in a typical classroom for hours and maintain distancing for them or their teacher. It’s just not possible. #BCpoli needs to reduce classroom density and mandate mask use whenever appropriate physical distancing isn’t possible. #bced

The #bcpoli government’s learning groups concept will work for contact tracing, but the plan doesn’t include adequate preventative measures within the learning groups. #BCed teachers, and the families they go home to, need more protection.”

Here are some key #bced health and safety concerns we are asking the #bcpoli government to address:

1. Classroom density reduced to allow for physical distancing.

2. Accommodations for teachers who are immunocompromised or have chronic health conditions.

3. An option for remote learning, especially for medically complex children or those who have a medically compromised close family member, that allows the child to remain connected to their school with access to the full range of supports and services.

4. Dedicated funding for improvements to school ventilation and HVAC systems to ensure worksites meet or exceed COVID-19 requirements.

5. Schools and worksites retrofitted with physical barriers for safety, where physical distancing is not possible

6. Additional funding to ensure custodial cleaning of high touch surface areas are completed twice during the day, in addition to regular cleanings.

7. All #bced adults and students 10 years and older should be required to wear face masks when physical distancing is not possible, as long as there is not a medical condition that prevents usage.

To protect everyone in schools, we need masks when we can't distance.

#bcpoli

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