Thread by @TeriMooring

Dear colleagues,

When the government first announced their K–12 restart plan on July 29, the @bctf expressed significant concerns that the plan needed more work. 1/

bctf.ca/NewsReleases.a…
#bced #bcpoli

Since that time, @bctf leadership has been working with the government’s steering committee to raise awareness of the plan’s shortcomings. In addition, 25 of our teaching colleagues have been raising concerns & solutions on the working groups to make the plan better. 2/

While some positive changes have been made, some of our biggest concerns have yet to be addressed. The @bctf will also be holding a Special Representative Assembly on August 28 where reps from every local will meet to further discuss the Federation’s strategy. 3/
#bced

Here are some of the key health and safety concerns the @bctf is asking the provincial government to address before school resumes:

• Classroom density reduced to allow for physical distancing. 4/

• An option for remote learning, especially for medically complex children or those who have a medically compromised close family member, that allows the student to remain connected to their school. 5/

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

• Dedicated funding for improvements to school ventilation and HVAC systems. 6/

• Protections for Teachers Teaching on Call who attend multiple worksites and come into contact with large numbers of students.

• Accommodations for teachers who are immunocompromised or have chronic health conditions. 7/

I want to assure you that your health and safety remains our number one priority. We’re all eager to get our students back to learning, but it needs to be balanced with appropriate additional preventative measures in classrooms. 8/

We need the government to do more to ensure teachers, students, and the families they all go home to, are safe.
I do think it is important to acknowledge that the government and the office of the #PHO have done excellent work on enhancing contact tracing strategies. 9/

We still need to see more effort put into prevention measures in schools. My message today to the BC government is teachers want to get back into our classrooms and give our students the best education possible. 10/

Like every other worker in the province, teachers have a right to a safe workplace. The government’s K–12 restart plan still needs more work to ensure teachers, students, and their families are as safe as they can be. We can get there, but we're not there yet.
In solidarity,
Teri

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