Planning for the upcoming school year is proving challenging with the uncertainty of COVID-19.

In-class instruction for the province’s 65,000 school-age children has been off the books since mid-March, but the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District hopes to bring all K-12 students back in the classroom this fall.

NLESD CEO and Director of Education, Tony Stack says their goal is to get students back and engaged in face-to-face learning with their teachers. However, given the current circumstances, that might not be a reality when September arrives.

Stack indicates that education this fall will look very different than the end of the 2019-2020 school year. He says staff are being prepared for some online instruction, should they need to use a blend of virtual and face-to-face learning.

However, there are still many lingering questions that make planning for September difficult, according to Stack. The NLESD would like to see guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health detailing how each of the next alert levels will impact their operations—from student transportation to classroom layouts.

He identifies busing and food service as particular challenges.