COVID-19 Update – What We Know So Far
March 16, 2020

Classes suspended indefinitely, effective today, Monday, March 16, 2020.

Tuesday, March 17 will be a planning day. Schools will be open for teachers only to work on planning for the short-term to provide instructional information/materials for students.

Schools will be open for students on Wednesday and Thursday to collect materials and personal items.

Schools will be open for teachers to prepare instructions/materials for students and to collect resources and personal items for the remainder of this week.

School Districts are preparing a plan for how this will all unfold which should be communicated tomorrow.

The NLTA was contacted just before the announcement Monday afternoon and we recommended the following:

– student attendance on Wednesday and Thursday should be staggered and limited to the amount of time needed to collect belongings;

– teachers should be provided flexibility in attendance at school this week depending on personal circumstances.

In keeping with the Premier’s, Minister Haggie’s and Minister Warr’s direction, all who can work from home should do so, and we would expect the school districts to accommodate this.

The Premier and the Minister of Education have both publicly assured us that the NLTA will be consulted as planning moves forward.

The NLTA will be engaging in discussions with government regarding a plan to provide economic support for substitute teachers.

This is a rapidly evolving situation and the Association will be updating members regularly as soon as we have new information.