Remember that $45.6 million the B.C. Ministry of Education announced for enhanced COVID-19 health and safety protocols in schools this September?
New Westminster will see $488,210 of that.
New Westminster school district superintendent Karim Hachlaf provided a breakdown of the amount during a townhall meeting held Monday night (Aug. 24) to answer parents’ questions about the return to school this fall.
As students and staff prepare for a return to school in the face of rising COVID-19 numbers around B.C., the school district will allocate the money towards the following:
Custodial staff: $269,238
Hand hygiene: $107,344
Cleaning supplies: $59,701
Reusable masks: $26,241
Technology: $25,686
The improvements to hand hygiene include new handwashing stations, including the provision of one handwashing station for every portable classroom in the district. Hand sanitizer will also be provided throughout district facilities.
Schools will have daytime custodial staff to ensure that strict cleaning and disinfection protocols are followed, including a thorough clean of every facility daily and cleaning of frequently touched surfaces twice daily.
Reusable masks will be available upon request, as mask use will now be mandatory in certain circumstances for staff and students:
- Teachers-on-call and other staff who interact with multiple learning groups will be required to wear masks.
- Masks will be required for middle and secondary schools in high-traffic and common areas.
- Masks will be required when middle and secondary school students are interacting with other students outside their learning group.
- All adults entering a school building must wear a mask.
Mask use in any other situations will be a personal choice.
A full breakdown of the school district’s back-to-school plans will be posted publicly on Wednesday, Aug. 26 after the district receives ministry approval.
Watch www.newwestschools.ca for the latest information.
