The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, today announced several new initiatives to support a successful reopening of schools across the province.
The latest initiatives address priority areas that have been identified and reflect the input received from education partners, including the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils, among others.
Student Transportation
Additional buses are being deployed to provide transportation for every student eligible for student transportation.
Remote Learning Initiative
New virtual teaching positions are being created and will be dedicated to virtual learning to meet the needs of students and family members who are immunocompromised and may be unable to attend school in-class.
Student Assistants
Student assistant hours are being increased to ensure students with exceptionalities are provided the supports they need and to reduce interaction with multiple classes.
Additional Health Resources
New public health nursing positions are being hired to provide added support in school communities related to COVID-19.
Occupational Health and Safety
Additional Occupational Health and Safety resources to support an increased focus on safe workplaces for teachers and staff.
A full listing of resources to support the return to school planning is provided in the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“Our schools are a source of friendship, learning, and stability for our children and youth. Our province is in a good place for the safe return to school because of the stewardship of our Chief Medical Officer of Health and the many public health measures being implemented. We have low prevalence and no community transmission. We are taking every measure to ensure students, teachers and staff are safe in schools”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Our primary focus is two-fold – ensuring our students receive the education they need, while ensuring everyone in the school setting is able to return to school safely. The additional measures being provided, such as increased teaching and staffing resources, occupational health and safety resources, and public health resources, further support a successful and safe return to school.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Education
“We know that parents and students are anxious because of the uncertainty of the pandemic. But, they want to return to school and have confidence in the back to school plans and advice and direction of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. We are supportive and grateful for the work of teachers and all school staff as we know it will be a year of change and adaptation but by remaining positive and working together we can have a successful and positive start to the school year.”
Don Coombs
Chair, Federation of School Councils
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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960, 725-9231
MeghanMcCabe@gov.nl.ca
Tina Coffey
Education
709-729-1906, 687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca
Denise Pike
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils
nlfsci@gmail.com
BACKGROUNDER
Measures to Support the Safe Return to School
- Additional busing to accommodate all eligible students;
- New virtual teaching positions;
- Creating new public health nursing positions;
- Additional Occupational Health and Safety resources;
- Adding 15 administrators;
- Adding 25 guidance counsellors;
- Hiring 70 substitute teachers on term contracts for specific schools;
- Increasing custodian hours from five to seven hours per day;
- Hiring up to 25 additional custodians;
- Increasing student assistant hours;
- Providing 5,100 laptops for every teacher in Kindergarten to Grade 12 and 30,000 Chromebooks for all junior high and high school students;
- Providing cleaning supplies to busing contractors;
- Providing masks to students, teachers and staff;
- Ensuring a robust supply of disinfection materials; and
- Putting safeguards in high traffic areas.