Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips is targeting the province’s education minister on Alberta’s return to classroom learning this month.
Phillips demands that Adriana LaGrange resign if COVID-19 forces students to learn remotely.
“If Albertans see widespread school closings due to the rapid spread of omicron, if thousands of students are sent home again due to this government’s refusal to step up, then the minister should resign,” he said. Phillips.
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Schools are preparing to welcome students to classrooms on Monday.
The minister’s office calls Phillips’s ultimatum “scaremongering.”
“The continued attempts (by the NDP) to scare parents in a time of such deep uncertainty are disgraceful,” reads in part a statement from a ministry spokesperson.
The Alberta Teachers Association is also expressing concern about the back-to-school plan.
“I am afraid, along with many of my colleagues, that we will see that schools will have to move online again and that it will be inevitable,” said ATA President Jason Schilling.
“Important health measures have already been implemented to provide layers of protection that will continue to keep our classrooms safe,” adds the ministry statement, which refers to physical distancing and improved disinfection measures.
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The province will also provide 16.5 million medical grade masks and 8.6 million rapid tests for staff and students.
Currently, school divisions may change an individual class or grade to home learning at their discretion. Moving schools or entire divisions online must be approved by Alberta Education.
In a statement to Global News, Holy Spirit Catholic Schools Division Superintendent Ken Sampson says safety remains the top priority.
“We will be monitoring student and staff attendance and are prepared to respond quickly should a rapid transition to virtual learning be required,” said Sampson.
Meanwhile, the Lethbridge School Division is implementing ventilation upgrades to improve air quality.
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“Temporary online learning will take place only when it is not possible to continue learning in person due to high absences from students or staff,” reads in part in a statement from the division.
Masks are required for all grade levels, and any staff member or student exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should stay home.
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Reference-globalnews.ca