(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Re-Open Saskatchewan

Local school division getting ready for fall reopening

Jul 16, 2020 | 1:00 PM

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division is preparing for students to return this fall.

Director of Education Lorel Trumier said when students return to class, the division will be asking them to bring along some extra supplies.

“We’ve already articulated to our students that they will require their own sanitizer, we’ll provide some as well if necessary, but would like them to have their own,” she said.

Students are also going to be asked to bring their own water bottles as there will be bottle filling stations in place as opposed to conventional water fountains. Trumier said the division will also have personal protective equipment on hand for staff.

“We have masks available and shields for our staff and if students want to wear masks they can certainly do that as well. Those are all things that are happening and have been put in place,” she said.

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When it comes to cleaning procedures, Trumier said they are making sure they have the proper cleaning supplies on hand. The P.A. and Area Teachers’ Association has expressed concerns about enhanced cleaning protocols, specifically how they would be carried out and who would be responsible.

Trumier did not rule out bringing in additional staff to help with cleaning but stressed their primary focus is on developing effective protocols.

“We’re not doubling up the number of teachers, we’re not doubling up the number of caretakers. What we’re doing is looking at the work that they do already and making sure that we have the best disinfecting we can have,” she said.

The school division is also planning to provide training to staff who work with students who have intensive needs in order to ensure those staff know the best way to protect against COVID-19.

“It’s not that we need more people, its that we need to have them educated about the best way to prevent COVID,” she said.

The division is working to reach out to parents and staff about any concerns they have. Trumier said they are in the process of reviewing information that has been submitted. She explained in crafting return to school policies, the division is bringing in a range of people.

“There’s quite a large group all of our school-based administrators and our senior admin, our IT manager, our facilities manager, our CFO — everyone’s involved in trying to create the best plan we can,” she said.

The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division said they will be prepared to talk about their return to school plans next month.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn