Yukon Teachers' Association says 2-metre rule 'not easy' in schools, calls for public safety verification

The Yukon Teachers Association says it wants more transparency about how schools are actually following COVID-19 safety guidelines, saying it'sclear thatkeeping two metres distance isn't possiblein some schools.

"Our schools were never designed with physical distancing in mind," said YTA president TedHup, whosaid they have "learned a lot" in the first few weeks of class.

"Some schools can and some schools can't. It's all on the physicality of the building."

Meanwhile, Hupalso says there have been days this year when schools have not had enough substitutes, and is worried about a "ripple effect" going into flu season.

Schools released operational plans this summer showing how they would follow the chief medical officers safety guidelines. But Hupsays some schoolsarechanging their original plans because of spacing issues, adapting with more mask usage or different traffic flows. Meanwhile, he said some schools don't have officialCOVID-19 safety signage yet.

Hup said he has no reason to believeschools are not acting safely.But he said the YTAwants apublic verification system that shows what school are doing in practice, so teachers and parents can "build confidence" in the system. He says this job shouldn't fall to school principals.

Yukon students have now been back to class for more than four weeks. But Hup said after the first week that keeping two metres of distance was proving not practically possible.

"Maintaining physical distance in a school setting is not easy," said Hup in an earlier interview after the first week of class. "We're not, in practical terms able to fulfil the guidelines of twometres of physical distance."

"Are we saying that we can do something when many of the times we can't?... I'm worried about a false sense of security."

Guidelines from the chief medical officer acknowledge that physical distancing may not always be possible or appropriate in schools. Department of Education spokesperson Kyle Nightingale said efforts are made to reduce risk in other ways, like more hand washing, limiting mixing and wear a mask.

"Schools will continue to adapt and adjust on an ongoing basis to ensure they are continuing to meet the health and safety guidelines," Nightingale said.

Nightingalesays schools have health and safety committees that will monitor, report on and adjust the safety measures. He saidthese committees will review operational plans on an ongoing basis, and adjust to ensure they're meeting COVID-19 guidelines.

Lack of substitutes could have 'ripple effect'

Meanwhile, Hupsaid several schools have been short substitutes in the first few weeks of class.

In the past few weeks, hesaid there werecases when schools hadsix teachers absent, but only twosubstitutes available. He said another elementary school was five substitutes short one day.

This means other teachers or administrators are pulled from preps or other assignments to cover, he said.

"What I fear is there will be a time when a school, especially coming to the cold and flu season, where a school will say ... Icannot provide the basic services in my building," said Hup.

"That's when things come to a grinding halt."

Yukon has had a shortage of teachers-on-call for a few years, Hup said. But he worries about added pressure during the pandemic, when older, retired teachers may not want to substitute.

Meanwhile, staff must stay or go home if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Education Minister Tracy-Anne McPheesays her department recruits teachers-on-call at the beginning of each year. She said they have not hired any more substitutes than usual this year. McPhee says the numbers of teachers on call tends to increase as the year goes on.

Hup called the response "window dressing."

Hup suggests hiring permanent substitute teachers on to staff, so some substitutes are guaranteed, or raising pay for teachers on call.