Jason Copping
MLA, Calgary-Varsity
calgary.varsity@assembly.ab.ca
Unit 201, 1055 20th Avenue NW
403-216-5436
Facebook.com\jasoncoppingAB
Instagram: Jason_CoppingAB
Twitter: @JasonCoppingAB
COVID-19 Safe return to school
Last spring, on the advice of Dr. Hinshaw, the Government of Alberta decided to suspend in class school and turned to on-line classes. School was very different; students navigated on-line learning, parents took more of a role as teacher, and teachers had to be creative and engage with their students in a very different way. Thank you for taking on this challenge and being so resilient to this new way of learning.
Whether you are sending your child to school for the first time or you are attending post-secondary school, the safety of our students is top of mind. The Government has worked with school boards and our Chief Medical Officer on a comprehensive plan for a safe return to school. I want to thank the parents who participated in the public survey providing input on the school re-entry plan.
The re-entry plan allows for students to return to school while continuing to protect the health and safety of our staff and students. As part of a number of new school safety measures, mask use for students in grades 4 to 12 and all school staff will be mandatory for the 2020-21 school year. The Government will be supplying every student and staff member with 2 reusable masks, and providing schools with sanitizer, face shields for staff, and contactless thermometers.
In addition, government is equipping schools with $250 million in Capital Maintenance and Renewal funding to navigate the new landscape of learning and COVID-19. This is in addition to the increase each school division in Alberta is receiving in operational funding – roughly $120 million across the province. The new funding model for K-12 education will have both the Calgary Public and Catholic School board will see an additional 1.2 per cent increase.
For those attending post-secondary school, you may see a mix of on-line with in class learning. I have full confidence that our institutions have implemented plans to keep you safe while learning.
As we continue to work on reopening and recovering from this pandemic, it is essential that we continue to take steps that protect ourselves and our loved ones from spreading COVID-19. Frequent hand washing, physical distancing and staying home when sick
Please note that I hope to hold an MLA meet and greet the afternoon of September 12th in Varsity. For further details please call my office or follow me on social media.
I want to wish everyone a safe and healthy return to school. As always, if you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at Calgary.Varsity@assembly.ab.ca.
