School divisions reopening playgrounds

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This article was published 13/05/2020 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Closed signs are being replaced with safety disclaimers on playgrounds across Winnipeg as schools reopen their structures to the public — although one division is choosing not to heed signage recommendations from the Manitoba School Boards Association.

Playgrounds were included in the first phase of the province’s reopening plan and the association recently gave school divisions guidelines for reopening the spaces safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic. High on the list was posting signage explaining that playgrounds are not being regularly disinfected and that users are responsible for maintaining hand hygiene and physical distancing.

“They are using the playground’s equipment at their own risk,” said Alan Campbell, MSBA president. “That kind of clear signage needs to be up before the signs, which previously read that the playgrounds are closed, come down.”

Seven Oaks School Division reopened all of its structures on May 4 sans signage, choosing instead to follow the direction of Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin.

“He has been very clear that we should open playgrounds,” Seven Oaks superintendent Brian O’Leary said via email.

“He has not qualified that advice or recommended additional caution even when asked to very directly by Manitoba School Boards.”

Campbell said that while the authority to reopen playgrounds falls to individual boards, additional caution isn’t a bad thing when it comes to risk management and liability.

“It is not a directive, it is guidance,” he said. “It’s up to each individual division to take that for what they will.

“But we would certainly encourage them to follow our guidance on this.”

The city’s five other school divisions are reopening playgrounds, at varying intervals, with some form of public disclaimer.

St. James-Assiniboia School Division reinstated its structures last Friday and Pembina Trails followed suit Wednesday. The Seine River School Division, which has five schools within city limits, opened its playgrounds earlier this week and River East Transcona is in the process of doing so.

In a letter posted online, Louis Riel School Division announced its 32 structures will open as of Thursday. The division also advised users to contact 311 if they notice anyone contradicting public-health orders.

The Winnipeg School Division will be one of the last to officially reopen its structures when it does so on May 18. The delay, according to WSD senior information officer Radean Carter, is largely due to the size of the division.

“We have 78 schools, most with a playground, which need to have the proper signage posted and equipment that has been stowed replaced,” she said, adding that swings are not being reinstalled at the moment.

Maintenance staff are also carrying out inspections to make sure equipment is in working order and grounds are free of glass and debris.

“Our team is working on it over the next few days,” Carter said. “If people are using it in the meantime, following (the) rules, we won’t kick them off.”

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney