Back-to-School Plan Delayed

Students, parents, and teachers who have all been waiting for a detailed back-to-school plan will have to wait even longer, after a seemingly last-minute instruction from the provincial government that additional public health details will impact or change the plan.

That’s according to a letter that Tony Stack, CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD), sent Wednesday evening to principals and assistant principals.

“The provincial government advised us today that there is further important updated medical health advice that potentially will have implications for our plan,” writes Stack in the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by CBC News.

“We have agreed to the government’s request to reschedule the release to early next week to ensure the plan includes the most recent information available to us.”

For most students in the public school system, classes are scheduled to start Sept. 9.

Teachers have been ordered back to work several days earlier for Sept. 2.

Stack said he “sincerely regrets this delay” when it comes to the plan, noting “everyone in our school communities are anxiously awaiting.”

Perhaps the biggest issue up in the air is masks, and whether, when and where students, teachers and other staff will be required to wear them.

Story courtesy of CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.