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Questions arise from back to school plans

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Educators and parents are weighing the announcement last week that plans are for classes to resume in September.
On Tuesday, July 21 Premier Jason Kenney was joined by Education Minister Adriana LaGrange and chief medical officer of health Deena Hinshaw to announce students would be returning to class this fall.
Schools will be welcoming students under the province’s Scenario 1, which is near normal operations with health measures in place to protect students and staff.
“We are determined to do everything we can to safely return our students, teachers, and staff to school. I appreciate the input and support of school authorities across the province, as well as our education partners, in developing and refining our school re-entry plan,” said Minister LeGrange. “We are providing clear and detailed guidelines and a re-entry tool kit so everyone can do their part and prepare for a safe return to school.”
Principal of Drumheller Valley Secondary School (DVSS), Curtis LaPierre, says there are many details still to be worked out on the re-entry plan. He does note it is advantageous for students to be at school.
“The best place for learning is kids in the classroom,” said LaPierre. “There is a social element to education that enhances things. The environment is not dynamic enough online to get a depth of understanding, and there are some associated efficiencies in learning you can get in the classroom. From that perspective having kids back in school is the best-case scenario.”
Under scenario 1, classes would resume with all students returning to school. There would be measures in place which include frequent cleaning of surfaces, placing hand sanitizers at school entrances and classrooms, grouping students in cohorts, and planning the school day to allow for physical distancing, which could include staggering start times for classes, recesses, and lunches. Additional public health measures may be established prior to September on the advice of the chief medical officer of health in consultation with the education system.
LaPierre noted the risk to students of serious complications from COVID so far is low.
“Other than some isolated instance where COVID has impacted youth in a negative way, oftentimes with the loss of a parent and grandparent, but on a physical level, for the most part, they seem to manage that infection well. Are they a high-risk audience? No. However they go out and about in the community and then visit a grandparent, and if they are asymptomatic, who knows if they are carrying and that viral infection is transferred to someone else.”
He also notes the risk of staff that are immune-compromised.
On the day of the announcement, July 21, there were 1,244 active cases of COVID-19. On Monday, July 27 there are 1,430. The growth in numbers has some parents concerned.
“In one breath Premier Kenney is chastising Albertans for not socially distancing and wearing masks, and then turns and says classes can return to full classes and no mandatory masks,” said Helen Treller who has children at St. Anthony’s “I’m concerned about bussing, kids in school, teachers, fellow students... what will the protocol be if a student in class has a sniffle- is testing mandatory of the child, or do all children in their cohort stay home (and their associated families) until the 14 days pass?” We need more answers and I think there should be some means for the divisions to take the opinions of the parents into their plans.”
She notes that physical distancing will be difficult and not reflected in the “test runs” noted in summer schools where class sizes were limited.
“My kids want to go back, they want their peers, and structure, but it has to be done safely. They need the expertise of trained educators. Class sizes need to be managed. Masks need to be mandatory. Shouldn’t we be basing it on the WHO standard of 2 metres?”
She is also concerned about staffing.
“The schools have lost a lot of teaching assistants already. And what happens if a teacher is self-isolating, are there enough substitutes able to cover?” she asks.
“There are more questions than answers at this time. I’m hoping common sense will prevail and proper provisions are put into place; the ability to socially distance and masks at a minimum. With rising cases, it’s the least we can do for our kids and our community.”
MLA for Drumheller-Stettler Nate Horner says there are still lots of details to work out.
“The Premier has made it clear that everything is in play. We are going to have to continue to monitor. We have seen a spike in cases, so things may have to happen down the road but we are certainly committed to trying that as close to normal approach with some additional health measures,” he said.
At the time of the announcement, there was no funding made available for PPE and implementation. Horner says those discussions are still going on.
“They wanted to get this announcement out of the way as early as possible to give the schools time to prepare and so the minster can continue to have those conversations,” he said. “It is my belief if it is found there is a shortfall, we’ll find a way to work through that.”


Mask use debated

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As COVID-19 cases in Alberta continue to creep up, the debate of mandatory mask use continues to be on the radar.

Recently Edmonton and Calgary have taken action and passed mandatory mask bylaws.
Drumheller CAO Darryl Drohomerski says while they are encouraging the use of masks, mandatory masks are not on the radar in Drumheller, but the debate may linger as Alberta moves towards its third phase of opening.
“We are not at that point. Calgary still has concerns for two reasons, one they are still high numbers and they really want to protect people on their transit systems,” said Drohomerski.
The town continues to urge residents to follow all protocols.
“We are still telling people to do all of these things; social distancing, stay home if you can, wash your hands, sanitize and wear masks when you are out in public,” said Drohomerski.

He says Valley Bus has protocols for sanitizing and drivers wear masks. The busses are also running at half capacity. Town staff is also following protocols. He does note he has noticed the community at large is not continuing to be as careful as when the pandemic began.
“All of us have been a bit complacent. It is nice outside,” he said.
“I don’t think we are at a point where we need to put a mask protocol in place like they did in Calgary.”
Drumheller is unique in that it hosts many visitors every year, and the tourism industry is rebounding. This poses a different approach to many facilities. Recently communities are seeing some facilities such as swimming pools and spray parks opening. Drumheller’s spray park opened on July 2.
“In our spray park, we have established a protocol pretty specific and well above what Stettler is doing as far as cleaning and sanitizing because we recognize we are not just getting a few dozen people a day and they are locals. We have been averaging 250-300 people a day through that facility,” he said.
On July 13, the province announced a second round of mask distribution through local A&W, McDonald’s and Tim Hortons restaurants. Masks are also available at local retailers for purchase.

Local anti-racism rally attracts 90

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Be the Change, a local anti-racism group, organized the Drumheller Stands Against Racism event which attracted some 90 people to the Drumheller Valley Secondary School football field on Sunday, July 26.
Administrator for Be the Change, and one of its founding members, Angela Scott told the Mail the group was founded in early June following a heated discussion on a local Facebook group about racism in the valley.
“The thread got out of hand and was deleted,” Scott said. She added, by deleting the thread, the discussion and the voices of people in the community were silenced.
Racism, though not a new issue in itself, can still be a difficult discussion in small, rural communities.
The event, organized by Be the Change, was hosted by Rural Alberta Against Racism (RAAR). It was one of several similar events hosted by RAAR in rural communities across the province, including Olds and Cremona where RAAR founder Taylor McNallie grew up experiencing racism and discrimination as the only person of colour in her community.
Following the event, McNallie said in a Facebook post she was grateful for the turnout.
“So many of us don’t leave the valley, and I wanted people to know (racism) is here,” Scott said. She added Be the Change is not an organization so much as it is a way of life, saying, “It’s about the greater good, not about ‘virtue signalling.’”
Members of the group are encouraged to not just promote the rhetoric of not being racist, but about actively standing up and speaking out against racism.
The group has also been in contact with members of other local organizations and groups, including the Drumheller Valley Family and Community Support Services, local Pride and LGBTQ+ groups, and GenNow.
The event featured local speakers telling their experiences with racism and discrimination in the valley, as well as guest speakers.
Mayor Heather Colberg was out of town the day of the event, however, Councillor Jay Garbutt was in attendance to give the town’s official statement against racism.


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