The closure on April 1 of Kincumber High School due to a student returning a positive COVID-19 test has thrown Central Coast parents into even more confusion over whether or not they should send their children to school.
The news that the school would close broke on the evening of March 31, with all students and staff asked to self-isolate until the contact tracing process was completed by NSW Health.
But on the evening of April 1, the news came that the school would reopen on April 2.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the school was extensively cleaned by NSW Department of Education staff in accordance with strict NSW Health guidelines on April 1.
“NSW Health experts have now completed the contact tracing process and a very small number of close contacts were notified to remain in self-isolation,” Crouch said.
“NSW Health will provide all necessary self-isolation and care advice.
“Any students and staff that have not been asked to self-isolate by NSW Health are not considered to have had close contact with COVID-19, and can resume their daily routines.”
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has declared that schools will stay open and NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has reinforced that, but encouraged all parents who are able to keep their children at home.
Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government, Brendan Murphy, has said there is “no evidence of a major transmission among school children”.
But the NSW Teachers Federation has demanded that normal school operations should cease and Central Coast Council of P&Cs President, Sharryn Brownlee, is now pushing for closures.
“Because nearly 30 per cent of children are already being kept out of school, for practical reasons, NSW is encouraging parents to keep their children at home,” Berejiklian said.
“This will ensure there is only one unit of work, whether the student is at home or at school.
“No child will be turned away from school.”
The Teachers Federation said on March 23 that conflicting messages were a “recipe for chaos”.
“Teachers and principals have now been thrust onto the frontline of this crisis,” Federation President, Angelo Gavrielatos, said.
“There is but scant reference to the safety of teachers and principals, and other school employees, in dealing with this crisis.
“Decisions are being made by people who have no idea how our schools and TAFE colleges function or what is happening inside them.
“We are told that social distancing protocols should be observed in all other places not affected by the shutdown.
“The social distancing protocol of 4m2 per person is impossible to implement in classrooms, corridors and most school playgrounds.
“We are told that children are low risk agents for the virus at school but suddenly become high risk agents in shopping centres and playgrounds, while also ignoring the fact that tens of thousands are travelling on trains and buses each morning and afternoon.
“We are told that there is concern about kids infecting grandparents but not teachers, many of whom are also grandparents.”
A further statement from the Federation on March 25 demanded that normal school operations cease.
“It is now essential that an immediate transition to an emergency mode of school operation be put in place with minimum staffing to support essential frontline services workers who are unable to care for their children during this crisis, and necessary systems to provide maximum health protection for all present on sites,” Gavrielatos said.
Brownlee said: “P and Cs are not meeting, school canteens have been closed and P and Cs across the Coast are calling for schools to move into the school break early,” she said.
“Most parents, where able, are already keeping their children at home.
“It is clear that steps need to be taken to protect children and teachers where parents are unable, for whatever reason, to keep children at home.
“Possibly a few satellite schools could open with the majority closing.
“Measures must be put in place by governments to ensure that front line workers are able to continue to protect the community.
“For those workers who’s normal child care in the holidays may be unavailable due to the crisis, it is important that their children are supervised and the families supported.
“There is also a need to protect vulnerable children and families and governments must take responsibility for ensuring all agencies are stepping in to help care for children.”
Source:
Media releases, Mar 23 and 25
NSW Teachers Union
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch
Media statement, Apr 1
Central Coast Council of P&Cs President, Sharryn Brownlee