ATA President Jason Schilling. (Alberta Teachers' Association)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

ATA president says delaying return to school ‘the right call’

Dec 31, 2021 | 2:49 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The organization representing teachers across the province was pleased to learn that schools will remain closed for one extra week.

On Thursday, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced that, due to uncertainty around the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the winter break for all K-12 schools in Alberta is being extended with classes resuming on Monday, Jan. 10.

READ MORE: Alberta extends winter break for K-12 students to Jan. 10

Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) President Jason Schilling says LaGrange’s decision was a smart one given the circumstances.

“The government has made the right call by delaying the resumption of schools in the New Year and by cancelling diploma exams for January. Omicron is a game-changer and health and safety practices in schools will need to be adapted – time is needed for schools to prepare. We are also pleased to see that schools will be supplied with medical masks and rapid tests.”

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Starting the week of January 10, the Alberta Government will distribute 8.6-million at-home rapid COVID-19 tests and 16.5-million medical-grade face masks to staff and students.

Schilling, however, has several pressing questions for the Ministry of Education:

• What additional measures will be implemented to limit further infection in schools?
• What improvements will be made to improve air filtration?
• What metrics will be used to determine when schools or classes move online?
• How is the government preparing for the severe staffing shortages likely to result from implementation of isolation requirements?
• How will substitute teachers be engaged and better supported to ensure their availability?
• Will medical masks be mandated by the province in all jurisdictions at all grade levels?
• Will vaccinations for students and staff be available in schools?
• Will vaccine mandates for staff be implemented province wide?
• What provincial standards is the government prepared to enforce so that school boards are not left holding the bag on these important decisions?
• What will happen with Grade 9 provincial achievement tests in January?

“These are important questions that require answers and clear leadership from the province. We have been making constructive suggestions and asking these sorts of questions throughout the winter break, and frankly throughout the entire pandemic. Unfortunately, the Minister of Education has chosen not to engage meaningfully with teachers, and the Association was not consulted on the announcement made yesterday.

Schilling says he and the ATA”s 46,000 members are prepared to work with the government and provide any input they can.

He adds that the health and safety of staff and students are his top priority.