REGINA — The Government of Saskatchewan has released the Safe Schools Plan, which will help the provinces 27 school divisions safely return to in-person classes. School divisions submitted their drafted plans to the province's education Response Planning Team (RPT) to ensure guidelines were followed. Each plan includes eight components: SAFE ATTENDANCE SAFE TRANSPORTATION Buses are to be sanitized between trips. SAFE ACCESS SAFE FACILITIES SAFE CLASSROOMS SAFE SUPPORTS SAFE ACTIVITIES SAFE ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS The NDP education critic Carla Beck said she was at a loss for words after reviewing the province's plan for returning to school in the fall. Beck said the plan doesn’t put any additional dollars into the education budget, and is disappointed the province is following a best case scenario. “Somehow the minister has managed to come up with the worst plan in Canada, despite all of the extra time and the ability to learn from the plans of other provinces,” Beck said. Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab points to successes in daycare this summer with no major outbreaks a need to return to class. “If community transmission remains low, the assumption is if there was a case of a child sick with COVID-19 the child would not come to school so there would be not consequence for the school.” Dr. Shahab said. Dr. Shahab adds if an infected student attended class, public health would work quickly to minimize the impact. “To compare what’s happening in childcare centres to what’s happening in high schools really does make me think the minister needs to get out into a high school and see what’s going on because it doesn’t look like a childcare centre.” Beck said.
