The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association is calling on the Provincial Government to be more transparent with parents, students and teachers when it comes to the decision-making process on school closures amid the possibility of community spread of COVID-19.
"The Association is at a loss as to understand how a community can be placed in a form of lock-down, such as Harbour Breton, where everyone is being urged to stay home as much as possible and arrange for testing, while schools remain open," said Dean Ingram, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association. "This is not only about protecting students and teachers, it is about protecting the community. If it is not safe for town facilities, local shops and businesses to be operating, how can it be safe to have schools open with students and school staff in close quarters with little or no physical distancing and weak or no mask requirements?"
Since early July, the NLTA has been questioning the inconsistency between the public health precautions that are required for community spaces and other public and private sector workplaces as compared to the lesser measures in place for schools.
"We are receiving calls from parents complaining that they cannot get answers to their questions about how these decisions are being made," said President Ingram. "It is time for government to clearly spell out the decision-making process so that parents are not left on their own to decide what is in the best interest of their children's, and their families' health."
For more information
3 Kenmount Road
St. John's Newfoundland
Canada A1B 1W1
www.nlta.nl.ca
