On May 21st, MVSD, along with the rest of Manitobans, heard an unexpected news announcement regarding schools during the Premier’s press conference about Phase 2 of Manitoba’s Draft Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for Recovery.
Premier Pallister’s declaration included the following:
- Classroom learning will remain suspended for the remainder of the school year. However, schools will open for staff and specific programs (Manitoba Education shared that the date for limited re-opening would be June 1). As well, students will be able to meet with teachers for the purpose of assessment and planning for the resumption of classes in September.
- Limited access to school facilities will continue to be permitted in settings where physical distancing can be maintained, including:
- Indoor occupancy limits of 50 per cent of normal occupancy levels or one person per 10 square metres will be in place.
- Teachers and students may meet in small groups or one-on-one settings to conduct student assessments, provide clinical supports, administer recovery and remedial learning plans and provide therapeutic services.
- Day camps and summer programming may operate.
- Scheduled students can access school Wi-Fi and/or computer equipment.
- Counselling access and emergency phone access may be provided for students.
- The use of outdoor facilities and playgrounds is encouraged.
- Remote learning continues but will wind down throughout June as student assessment and transition planning begins. This planning may be done remotely or in person depending on local needs and individual considerations.
- A separate entrance to the facility or staggered hours should be established for each limited use purpose wherever possible. Washrooms and lunchrooms must have frequent sanitization and should be monitored to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Sharing of items, including food and drink containers should be avoided to the greatest extent possible. Students must bring their own lunches or provided lunches must be individually wrapped in disposable containers.
- To ensure students’ safely and effectively transition to the new school year on a solid foundation, additional teaching days are proposed for the upcoming school year, including starting schools on August 31st, 2020 and re-purposing some of the non-instructional days throughout the school year. The department will continue planning and consulting with school divisions and other education stakeholders.
What does this announcement mean for the students and staff of MVSD?
The administrative team quickly scrambled to disseminate the message and change the planned course. The team had worked hard to finalize a plan for the rest of the school year (which included bringing in at-risk-students for some one-on-one time) based on the government’s previous statements as late as early May that schools would not be opening during this school year. These plans were now no longer valid.
Up to mid-week last week, administration worked on an outline for the first week of June to open the schools that would focus on meeting the needs of the students and staff while taking the province’s directives into account. Nevertheless, schools cannot have all the children arrive at once because of the occupancy limits, and, unfortunately, due to an earlier directive from the provincial government to lay off employees, there will be no transportation available.
A plan has been put in place for the first week of June that includes making sure the schools are ready for students then asking each student to come in and meet with the teacher on a one-on-one basis. The teacher will assess where the student is at in their learning and determine if further follow up is required. Afterwards, during the second and third week of June, small groups of students may be asked to come in to work with the teachers, based on need. The focus will be helping the Grade 12s complete their course work along with supporting at-risk students.
It is not a perfect plan, however school divisions, as of this printing, are still unsure of some of the restrictions due to the lack of clarity, especially in regards to occupancy limits. Hopefully clarity will be forthcoming soon.
In the meantime, through these uncertain, ever-changing times, MVSD’s staff will continue to strive to help students in their learning and support families in teaching the assigned materials. Truly, “We’re All in This Together”, and it is by rising to the challenge and embracing the change that we will come out of this a stronger community.