A B.C. Ministry of Education survey is reporting that 85% of K-12 public school students have returned for in-class learning for the first full week of classes, with increased staffing and supports. 

The survey so far includes 44 school districts and 129 independent schools.  

A release from the government says that, “all school boards were given the authority to offer remote options to students within their districts, as well as the tools needed to increase their existing programs to meet any demand. If a family needed alternative learning options, school districts were expected to work with families to provide remote options that keep children connected to their school communities.” 

Some school districts hired more staff and created more hours to help with relaunch this fall. Of the respondents, 88% also upgraded their air filtration systems. The Ministry also provided 1.5 million non-medical masks, two for every public-school staff member and student. 

On the other hand, B.C Teacher Federation President Teri Mooring is concerned that school districts are addressing health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic inconsistently.  

She wrote a letter to Education Minister Rob Fleming this week outlining her concerns and seeking specific actions. 

“Because your Ministry failed to issue clear directives, crucial decisions have been left to the discretion of school districts. As a result, we see vastly different policies and practices across the province, resulting in significant inequities for students and staff. This is causing confusion, stress, and a downward slide in working and learning conditions.” 

These actions are:  

  • Direct all school districts to provide every BCTF member with a face shield. 
  • Direct all school districts to offer a remote learning option that is available to all students. 
  • Direct all school districts to provide dedicated staffing for remote learning options, rather than adding this work to the existing workload of classroom teachers. 

On Sept. 17, the BC Teachers’ Federation submitted an application under Section 88 of the BC Labour Relations Code.  

Mooring says. “It is a rarely used provision that we believe can compel the government into a labour relations process to address our many outstanding concerns. Our hope is to get the government to address the many communication, process, and health and safety problems of their restart plan.