Some school advocates within B.C. are cautiously optimistic following a $2 billion federal government funding announcement for school safety for the coming year.

B.C. will receive $242.36 million as part of the newly created Safe Return to Class fund, an amount in proportion to the provincial population of students, said Dean McGee of the Surrey District Parents Advisory Council, which represents the interest of Surrey parents in the public education system.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e happy to see that it含羞草研究社檚 split by population, and now we want to see it split by district. We feel (our district) is always left behind.含羞草研究社�

In his announcement this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the money can be used for anything from hand sanitizer to remote leaning options. McGee hopes some of the funds can be used for options such as paying for cleaning staff.

He said he含羞草研究社檚 heard from their district含羞草研究社檚 superintendent they have already 含羞草研究社渟pent more than $5 million on just cleaners.含羞草研究社�

A hybrid model of in-person and remote teaching is also a pressing need, along with larger classrooms with fewer students.

For those students who will attend in-person teaching, he believes more infrastructure such as hand sanitizer and plastic barriers are needed, particularly as many schools within the district use portables.

含羞草研究社淭here are 8,000 kids in portables - that含羞草研究社檚 a size of a medium school district in the rest of the province. When those kids go outside, they touch the doorknob to go to the bathroom, hopefully, there含羞草研究社檚 enough soap or sanitizer there, and then they touch the doorknob to go back in. We want to make sure all of that is up to scratch.含羞草研究社�

While the federal funds could go towards more PPE within the classroom, Gord Lau, chair of the Vancouver School District Parent Advisory Council explained it would be better used for developing innovative solutions.

含羞草研究社淭he instructions from the (Ministry of Education) is that within a classroom, we don含羞草研究社檛 want kids touching, but you don含羞草研究社檛 have to practise social distancing. If we have more funding, that含羞草研究社檚 okay but the messaging (around COVID regulations) is 含羞草研究社榯his isn含羞草研究社檛 required.含羞草研究社� The messaging around ventilation is 含羞草研究社榦pen a window.含羞草研究社� I don含羞草研究社檛 think that含羞草研究社檚 satisfactory.含羞草研究社�

Lau added flexibility in the provincial mandate combined with the funding is what is required - particularly for elementary students so that a hybrid solution can be implemented.

含羞草研究社淚 think that would make parents happier than more funding for PPE.含羞草研究社�

For Tracy Humphreys, chair of the BCEdAccess Society which serves students with disabilities and complex learners throughout the province, the funds could help with the flexibility of choice for students and parents alike.

In a recent survey done by the organization, 649 respondents out of 1,102 noted they are considering a different option from public, in-person school.

含羞草研究社淚 feel the loss of so many students with disabilities is a loss of great diversity and strength in the public education system,含羞草研究社� said Humphreys. 含羞草研究社淭he biggest finding we had is that students and parents and caregivers want to stay connected to the community school. Flexibility is key and we feel it is so important.含羞草研究社�

In a statement on social media, the BC Teachers含羞草研究社� Federation noted the funds can be used for smaller classes, reduced density, better cleaning and ventilation. They added the province should also provide remote options for students that need them in order to reduce density and support medically complex children and youth.

Black Press Media has reached out to the BCTF for further comment.

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