Release Detailed Back-To-School Plan: Liberals

The Liberals are calling on New Brunswick’s education minister to release a complete back-to-school plan.

Education critic Chuck Chiasson says many questions remain after the province unveiled an outline in June.

“It is unacceptable that the people to whom we entrust the education of our children are still in the dark,” said Chiasson in a statement.

“The minister has failed to address serious issues such as the configuration of schools and classrooms, resourcing of classrooms, facilitating immuno-compromised teachers and students, just to name a few.”

Premier Blaine Higgs was asked about his government’s back-to-school plan during a news conference Wednesday.

Higgs told reporters they have had several discussions of what things could look like in September.

“Even today in our COVID cabinet committee we talked about issues around the social media side of having laptops or iPads available up to the transportation needs if schools look different,” he said.

As part of the current plan, kindergarten to Grade 5 students will see reduced class sizes, with the aim being around 15 students per class. Grades 6 to 8 will have regular class sizes and students will be spread out in the classroom.

All students in kindergarten to Grade 8 will be grouped by class and stay within their grouping throughout the day.

Students in Grades 9 to 12 will not be grouped due to schedules but there will be smaller class sizes. They will be taught using “blended learning” methods, which means they may not always be in the classroom.

“The department and the minister and the deputy are working to build a network around how we can manage if things get worse, how we can manage if they don’t and we can start up,” said Higgs.

“We’re getting feedback from parents, we’re getting feedback from districts in terms of what precautions are needed, where are the triggers that would say we need to make changes,” said Higgs.

Higgs said they have to be ready for several different scenarios depending on what the pandemic looks like in September. That could include closing schools again in the event of a second wave of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Chiasson said while he recognized new outbreaks could change everything, he believes the government should still be able to provide a detailed plan.

All [Education Minister Dominic Cardy] has to do is present a plan with multiple scenarios depending on [how] out control of the virus [is] in September,” he said.

“With a clearly defined plan A, plan B and plan C, schools and parents would be able to better prepare for all eventualities.”

The premier did not say when a full plan may be released.