The president of the Yukon Association of Education Professionals isn’t happy with the government’s decision to open schools in the territory this week.

Ted Hupé spoke to the Star Tuesday to express his misgivings.

“I do have concerns,” Hupé said.

Most of those concerns revolve around the fear of infection from the Omicron variant of COVID-19, he said.

Hupé noted many people – from school staff to students – were likely out of the Yukon over the school break – which put them at more risk of acquiring, then spreading the virus.

He said he had asked the Department of Education to not open the schools this week in favour of online learning.

Hupé said he understands various First Nations representatives had made that request as well.

That request, Hupe said, was turned down flatly by department officials.

“The department wants school in session no matter what,” Hupe said.

The Yukon is one of only two jurisdictions in Canada that hasn’t turned to online learning while it tries to sort out the Omicron outbreaks.

The only other is Saskatchewan, Hupé noted.

“There will be kids going back to school (and staff) not knowing they are infected,” he continued. “We know cases are going up in the Yukon, and people will catch it.”

Hupé said his preference was for this week to be devoted to online learning instead of in-class as Yukon public health officials tracked how the current outbreak was trending.

“We’d have a better idea by the end of the week,” he said.

Instead, Hupé said, he was told the schools would be open regardless.

“Elliott (Catherine, the acting chief medical officer of health) says schools are a low risk for spreading the virus,” Hupé said. “Some prudence, some caution is needed right now.”

He added the Department of Education has been saying for months that it is prepared to “pivot” to online learning if necessary.

“If now is not the time to pivot, when is?” Hupé asked. “Are we going to be reactive or pro-active?”

Hupé said he wouldn’t be surprised to see the schools closed down in a week or two if the cases spike. He said that would be a reactive response, instead of looking ahead.

“It’s a chance to prove the system is flexible,” he said.

Porter Creek Secondary School has turned to online learning this week due to staffing issues. It should re-open to regular learning next week.

Meanwhile, the principal of the Robert Service School in Dawson City also had misgivings – but the Department of Education didn’t waver. Only 36 students reported to classes on Tuesday.

“In Dawson, re-commencement is a real concern because of the increased incidence of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant over the holiday period. A request to YE (Yukon Education) was made for a delayed start at RSS because of our community’s current situation,” principal Brian Lewthwaite wrote on the school’s Facebook page.

“The department has been working closely with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health as the COVID-19 situation has evolved here in the Yukon and across Canada.

“After careful consideration of our situation in the territory, the acting Chief Medical Officer of Health has recommended that all schools – including RSS – remain open for in-person learning, starting as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

“I have requested actual Dawson incident numbers from the Yukon Communicable Disease Centre (YCDC), but have not received these data. We are aware we have many more cases than actually reported.

“I realize that there will be parents and caregivers that will choose to not have their children at school at this time. It’s understandable. It’s a challenge for staff as well, as we work daily with the tension of a pandemic in our midst, and now an increased incidence but still an expectation we remain in our direct teaching roles.”

Nicole Morgan, the deputy minister of education, told the Star late Tuesday afternoon the government is monitoring schools closely.

The decision to switch to online learning will be carried out on a school-by-school basis, she said, as will any decision to close.

Morgan said the department is looking closely at both student attendance this week and rates of staff absence.

Any significant impact on staff absenteeism will be felt first on simply operating the schools, Morgan said, especially in the communities, where resources are stretched thin.

Substitute teachers aren’t as readily available there, while Whitehorse schools can weather the situation somewhat better.

Morgan said the department and government believe the situation could be worse next week, and further decisions could be made then.

“Most schools did report some staff away (Tuesday),” Morgan said. “From a public health perspective, there’s no reason to (go to online learning) or close them.”

That’s also the advice coming from Dr. Catherine Elliott, the acting chief medical officer of health, Morgan noted.

“The operational perspective might suggest something different, though,” she said.

“Our preference is to always keep in-person learning going. It’s an anxious time, and we might have to have a conversation about Robert Service School.”

The Trondek H’wechin First Nation is also calling on the government to take a closer look at the situation with Robert Service School.