Thread by @gvta

GVTA Calls on @sd61schools to Immediately Close Schools until Air Quality Returns to Safe Levels.

Students returning to full classes today while Victoria’s air quality may be the worst in the world. GVSD61’s plan to put schools into ‘hold and secure’ is in direct conflict with the Covid-19 Exposure Control Plan and BCCDC Public Health guidelines for K-12.

The GVSD Exposure Control plan tells schools to enhance school ventilation by:
•moving activities outdoors when possible
•ensuring that the ventilation system operates properly and maximize air exchange where possible, and
•opening windows when possible

The BCCDC lists being outdoors as one of the key environmental measures for preventing #Covid_19 exposure in schools and recommends taking students ‘outside more often’

Hold&Secure instructs students and staff to remain in classrooms all day with windows and doors closed.

Students will be in full sized classrooms - no physical distancing requirements, no outdoor learning, no open windows to compensate for HVAC systems with low rated MERV filters, and no mask policies.

The School District needs to prioritize the reduction of #Covid_19 spread in our community. This can not be done with students and staff in close, crowded spaces for extended periods of time. Schools must close until air quality returns to safe levels.