NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
NLTA hopeful for a safe return to school in September

With in-person classes resuming in September, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association is pleased to hear that ongoing monitoring of illness and absences related to COVID-19 will be part of the efforts to ensure and maintain a safe return to school for students and staff in the province's K-12 schools.

"Throughout the pandemic, we have relied upon and encouraged all members of our school communities to follow the advice and guidance of Public Health officials when it comes to the safety of school operations. We will continue to do that in September," said Trent Langdon, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association. "We agree that in-person learning is in the best interests overall of students, teachers, and other school staff, as long as the safety of the learning and working environment is prioritized. NLTA members have worked diligently throughout the pandemic, and will continue to do so, to ensure students receive high-quality education in the face of frequent challenges and changing conditions in their classrooms."

In-person education is the largest, daily indoor gathering of individuals in our communities, often in crowded conditions, and the NLTA maintains that safety must be the top priority as decision makers look to support and maintain in-school learning in September and beyond. Issues such as class size and composition, crowding in classrooms and common areas, and ventilation/air quality in school buildings will remain matters of importance for the Association as the 2022-23 school year begins.

"The Association will ensure these and other issues that impact our students and teachers on a daily basis are raised during the upcoming learning impact symposium, focusing on the K-12 system," said President Langdon. "I look forward to participating in these meetings next week. It is vital that government hears first-hand from, and listens to, NLTA members who have been on the frontlines of the K-12 public education system throughout two-and-a-half pandemic years."