In the week that most students returned to in-person learning (Jan. 10-14) three B.C., public schools have declared functional closures due to staff shortages as a result of COVID-19 exposures.
Armstrong Elementary in the North Okanagan, Heritage Park Middle School in Mission, and Hazelton Secondary in northwestern B.C.
91裸聊视频淭here are a lot of schools that are close to the line,91裸聊视频� says Terri Mooring, president of the B.C. Teachers91裸聊视频� Federation (BCTF). 91裸聊视频淐lose to the point where they have enough people away that they may not be able to run the school.91裸聊视频�
Mooring adds so far school districts are managing functional closures and the lead-up to potential closures.
91裸聊视频淚t varies from district to district. Of course, the teacher shortage really impacts functional closures, especially in the north of the province where we see an acute issue around the shortage of teachers.91裸聊视频�
The health and safety of students, teachers, and staff are paramount to the BCTF.
91裸聊视频淭eachers are really concerned,91裸聊视频� says Mooring. 91裸聊视频淭here are still some really good ways to fix that, which could help everyone with their peace of mind. We are in a pandemic. The Omicron variant spreads very quickly and easily. We91裸聊视频檝e seen already since school went back, functional closures and we don91裸聊视频檛 want to see any more.91裸聊视频�
Mooring adds the federation is starting to see some school districts step-up and offer N95 masks to teachers and other education workers, and hopes all districts will follow suit.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 also like to see teachers prioritized for booster shots. We91裸聊视频檙e hearing from our members that some are getting booster shots, others are having a tough booking them. Access continues to be an issue, especially amongst children. Vaccination rates for five to 11-year-olds are very low. In the Interior, the vaccination rates for both five to 11-year olds and 12 to 17-year olds are well below the provincial average.91裸聊视频�
The BCTF is hoping the province will target a campaign to families about the importance of getting vaccinated and mask-wearing. They are also working with the province around ventilation systems in schools.
91裸聊视频淲e are making some slow progress there,91裸聊视频� says Mooring. 91裸聊视频淗owever, we are expecting some districts to be able to buy HEPA filters where necessary, especially in those schools where there isn91裸聊视频檛 mechanical ventilation already.91裸聊视频�
Mooring says rapid testing is also something the BCTF would like to see the province take the lead on.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been told education workers will have rapid tests made available to them, and that91裸聊视频檚 great. We91裸聊视频檇 like to see families be able to receive rapid testing as well. There is a lot of confusion around when a child should go to school when a child should not go to school and the rapid testing will help with that.91裸聊视频�
Read More: B.C. to deploy rapid COVID-19 tests for school staff when they arrive
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.
