Richmond schools won’t be in session this week as the province pushed the start date back to Jan. 10.
Teachers and other school staff, however, will be back in school next week to look at changes and new protocols.
Children of essential workers – especially health-care workers – however, might be allowed to attend next week.
Their parents are being asked to contact school principals to make arrangements.
Schools will also be reaching out to those families with students with “complex support needs” and “vulnerable learners” who might need extra support, according to district superintendent Scott Robinson.
Families are encouraged to ask daycare providers whether they are open next week, he added in a message to parents.
This delay in re-opening schools comes after COVID-19 cases have risen sharply across the province with the Omicron variant.
The number of new cases on Thursday was well over 4,000 across the province and in Richmond, the number has quadrupled in a week.
Board chair Sandra Nixon told the Richmond News the extra time will allow schools to implement more safety protocols, plan for higher staff absences and let families know about changes.
It will also allow more time for children to be vaccinated, she added.
