A Fraser Health effort to improve communication around COVID-19 exposures in schools appears to have backfired.
That’s the message superintendent Karim Hachlaf brought to the New Westminster school board at its Dec. 15 meeting.
Hachlaf acknowledged that the “sincere intent” of the changes was to improve communication with families and school communities.
“Unfortunately, from my perspective and the feedback I’ve received from staff and families, it has not achieved its intended impact,” he said. “In fact, what we have seen is increased confusion and anxiety given the increase in the number of letters.”
Under the changes, members of a school community now receive “exposed” or “not exposed” notices, depending upon whether a positive COVID-19 case was associated with their particular class or cohort.
Students and staff may also receive “self-monitor” letters directing them to watch for symptoms – letters that contain similar guidance to the “exposed” notices, Hachlaf pointed out. He said the duplication and the number of notices seems to be causing extra anxiety rather than alleviating it.
Hachlaf noted that, since a previous COVID-19 update to the board in mid-November, the district has sent out eight more early notification letters and 13 more self-monitor letters.
Under the new notification system, which started Dec. 5, district schools have seen 13 “early notification – exposed” letters. Six of those were at New Westminster Secondary School, three at Glenbrook Middle and one each at Queensborough Middle and F.W. Howay, Lord Tweedsmuir and Qayqayt Elementary schools.
Another 11 “early notification – not exposed” letters have been sent out: four at NWSS, three at Glenbrook Middle, and one each at Queensborough, Howay, Tweedsmuir and Qayqayt.
Hachlaf acknowledged local families have been getting more letters about COVID-19 exposures in New West schools.
“The frequency has gone up, but it doesn’t mean the number of cases has necessarily gone up because there’s so many letters that we’re sending out with one exposure,” he said.
“The whole process, in my view, needs to be revamped.”
Hachlaf said school district superintendents around the region are working with health officials on ways to improve the process.
“We’re doing everything we can within our means to communicate with Fraser Health and hopefully make some positive changes moving forward with the communication process,” he said.
