Given the information the provincial government has now, Alberta’s Education Minister expects students will be back in school this September.
Minister Adriana LaGrange says the province is targeting “near normal” operations with some health measures in place, however, a final decision will be made by August 1st. Some of the new operational rules announced on Wednesday include:
- Staff and students will not be mandated to wear masks.
- Masks may be considered in circumstances where there is prolonged close contact (greater than 15 minutes) and a distance of two metres cannot be maintained.
- Masking is generally not recommended for younger students.
- A recommended maximum of 15 people in a classroom to allow for more consistent physical distancing.
- Students will attend school less regularly as school authorities will need to adjust their class schedule and configuration to meet the physical distancing requirement.
LaGrange adds the decision on which scenario school boards will follow will be decided by the government and not by individual school authorities.
Each school board will be in charge, however of how they follow health measures and their academic calendar.
Minister LaGrange says health precautions this fall will include the following: hand washing and sanitizing, frequent cleaning of schools & buses, no sick students allowed at school, and physical distancing when possible.
In-school classes have been cancelled since the middle of March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
