"Essentially, we have more or less returned to education delivery as it was prior to the pandemic reaching Saskatchewan."

Regina’s public and Catholic school divisions say they will follow guidance from the provincial government as students prepare to head back to class amid a rebound of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and outbreaks.

There are no public health orders mandating that students wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but both divisions say those who feel ill should stay at home.

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“We will respect the personal choice and the right of every student, staff member, volunteer and guest to wear a mask, should that individual wish to do so,” Terry Lazarou, communications supervisor for Regina Public Schools (RPS), said in an emailed statement.

Students are heading back to school on Thursday for in-class learning. According to Lazarou, the division is eager to see students back, which is why it will “work closely” with the government to minimize health risks.

The public school division is recommending staff and students take “a layered approach,” such as masking, washing and sanitizing surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, and maximizing physical distancing.

“We encourage vaccination and follow-up boosters of students and employees,” Lazarou wrote.

“The school division continues to make rapid antigen tests available for staff and for students,” he added.

The province announced booster vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11 were available as of Wednesday.

The Regina Catholic Schools Division’s (RCSD) updated safety plan for states that all buildings will have disinfectant and hand sanitizer readily available.

A late August update to the plan states that medical-grade masks will also be available in all of its buildings.

“Essentially, we have more or less returned to education delivery as it was prior to the pandemic reaching Saskatchewan,” said an RCSD spokesperson in an email.

“We are looking forward to welcoming students beginning tomorrow, but of course continue to take our direction from the Ministry of Education and the SHA in terms of public health guidelines,” they added.

In terms of ventilation, the Catholic school division’s safety plan states its HVAC systems are “regularly maintained, and windows are opened when possible.”

RPS had every office and school ventilation system enhanced last year, about 800 installations, with technology called “bipolar ionization,” which reduces particles and smoke in the air, kills pathogens and helps control allergens and asthma.

Earlier this year, RPS announced it had been the target of a cyber attack, which effectively forced the division’s online infrastructure offline.

Lazarou said “most of the issues” from the attack have been resolved.

“We are all back to the business of teaching and learning, albeit with even more robust online security protocols,” Lazarou said.

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