Watching Edmonton Public emergency meeting.
699 self-reported cases of COVID-19.
67 per cent are in students in K to 6.
#ableg #abed
699 self-reported cases of COVID-19.
67 per cent are in students in K to 6.
#ableg #abed
Edmonton Public has 17 schools on outbreak status.
13 due to repiratory illness. 4 due to COVID-19.
#ableg
13 due to repiratory illness. 4 due to COVID-19.
#ableg
Board chair @TrishEstabrooks said today's emergency meeting was called after parents urged the board to do more to get the province to do something.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
The board of trustees have been advocating for the province to bring back the measures it used last year -- notifying schools of positive cases, contract tracing, etc.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Supt. Darrel Robertson says staff are tired and anxious dealing with COVID and ensuring kids get the support they need to be successful.
"It is pretty tough sledding right now," he said. #ableg #abed
"It is pretty tough sledding right now," he said. #ableg #abed
Robertson says the district is talking to school bus operators about ensuring drivers are fully vaxxed.
#ableg
#ableg
Robertson says it is challenging to deal with 700 cases of COVID in the first month of school. #abed #ableg
Estabrooks says the board wrote a letter, and there was a meeting with Education Minister @AdrianaLaGrange urging a return to notification of cases, contact tracing, and quarantining of close contacts.
Nothing has changed, she says. #ableg #abed
Nothing has changed, she says. #ableg #abed
First of 5 recommendations. Very long...but basically, it calls for a firebreak to close schools and non-essential businesses...along with supports for parents, and adequate transition periods.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Trustee @bridgetstirling says school closures are the most effective way to stop transmission of cases.
They aren't calling for it lightly, "with a very heavy heart," she says.
But they are at the point where it has to happen. #ableg #abed
They aren't calling for it lightly, "with a very heavy heart," she says.
But they are at the point where it has to happen. #ableg #abed
Stirling says schools are a driver of community transmission.
She says the recommendation is in response to a call from medical community. #ableg #abed
She says the recommendation is in response to a call from medical community. #ableg #abed
To be clear, the province has to implement this.
The board cannot close schools on its own. has to get permission from Alberta Education.
#ableg
The board cannot close schools on its own. has to get permission from Alberta Education.
#ableg
Stirling says the recommendation calls for a province-wide firebreak. Not just for Edmonton Board.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Stirling says they want transition time so parents and teachers can prepare for a closure. To avoid the scramble they say in the spring of 2020. #ableg #abed
Trustee Shelagh Dunn says school closures are an action of last resort, but we're at this point.
She is disappointed but will support the recommendation.
#ableg #abed
She is disappointed but will support the recommendation.
#ableg #abed
Dunn says her son's school has 83 cases of COVID. He caught COVID two weeks ago.
It is absolute chaos, she says.
#ableg #abed
It is absolute chaos, she says.
#ableg #abed
Trustee Michelle Draper is unhappy school trustees have to advocate for these measures when the province should be stepping in and taking action.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Trustee Estabrooks says the board knows that staff is doing the best they can, going above and beyond.
She says medical community is calling for a firebreak.
"It's clear that schools are hotspots... doing nothing has consequences."
#ableg #abed
She says medical community is calling for a firebreak.
"It's clear that schools are hotspots... doing nothing has consequences."
#ableg #abed
Estabrooks is emotional. She says she is really struggling. She knows it is difficult for marginalized kids.
She talks about kids getting pediatric surgeries cancelled.
If that isn't the sign of a crisis in this province, I don't know what is, she says.
#ableg #abed
She talks about kids getting pediatric surgeries cancelled.
If that isn't the sign of a crisis in this province, I don't know what is, she says.
#ableg #abed
If the province had prioritized in-person learning from the get-go, we wouldn't be in this situation, Estabrooks. #ableg #abed
Trustee Nathan Ip calls out the province for a "spectacular abdication of responsiblity and a failure of leadership." #abed #ableg
Ip feels decisions were made for political reasons and not in best interests of Albertans.
Both Ip and Estabrooks say they will support the motion.
#abed #ableg
Both Ip and Estabrooks say they will support the motion.
#abed #ableg
Trustee Bridget Stirling talks about prioritization of adult desires over children's needs.
We've called in the military and Red Cross, but still having hockey games, she says. #ableg #abed
We've called in the military and Red Cross, but still having hockey games, she says. #ableg #abed
Vote is called. Every trustee except Sherry Adams vote in favour of the recommendation to advocate to the province for a firebreak school closure.
It passes.
#ableg #abed
It passes.
#ableg #abed
Recommendation 2 of 5: calling on resumption of test, trace, isolation in schools. and resume AHS notification of positive cases.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Trustees are expressing their bewilderment that the province will not share information about positive cases in schools. No one knows the reason why.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Recommendation three - Edmonton Public calls on province to get HEPA units into classrooms, provincial ventilation standards to deal with an airbourne virus.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Trustee @bridgetstirling says appropriate HEPA units should be assessed by experts and evaluated by central purchasing (Alberta Education).
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
@bridgetstirling Stirling says health is a provincial responsiblity...school districts shouldn't use education dollars to purchase these units so province should buy.
She says some school divisions lack financial resources to purchase HEPA units, so an equity issue too.
#ableg #abed
She says some school divisions lack financial resources to purchase HEPA units, so an equity issue too.
#ableg #abed
The recomendation calling for provincial ventilations standards/HEPA filters in classrooms passes unanimously.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Fourth recommendation calls on province to provide parents with COVID rapid tests that can be used at home (as in Nova Scotia).
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
Trustee Sherry Adams now talking about the story from the doctor who wanted to give ivermectin to Alberta patients.
now she is talking about "adverse" effects of vaccines.
She wants to know why we are preventing the use of Ivermectin on COVID patients.
#ableg #abed
now she is talking about "adverse" effects of vaccines.
She wants to know why we are preventing the use of Ivermectin on COVID patients.
#ableg #abed
Trustee @TrishEstabrooks interrupts and says she will let Adams finish but she is spreading misinformation.
#ableg #abed
#ableg #abed
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
