SUDBURY -- With the return to school just weeks away, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board says its back-to-school plan will have students seeing many changes in their classrooms.

Michael Bellmore, chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, said using space creatively will be important for distancing.

“Using alternative spaces that we wouldn’t normally use for classroom space to try and maximize and ensure as much of that physical distancing as possible," Bellmore said of the board's plan. "You’re going to see hand washing and hand sanitizing stations at every school, which is something new students haven’t seen prior. You’re going to see in the main offices, guards set up for the secretary to ensure that there is safety going on in the main offices as well.”

Bellmore said as of right now, indications are about 18 per cent of students will be staying at home once the school year begins.

“You’re going to see more interactiveness with teachers, we’re going to be assigning teachers to students who are remote learning so that they have regular touch points every day, and attendance will be taken,” said Bellmore. “It’s going to be more of a normal classroom setting, only obviously done remotely through technology.”

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is encouraging parents to ask themselves and their children a series of questions:

- Do you, your children, or anyone in your social circle have a health condition?

- Do you have access to child care, if required?

- Does your child require in-class learning with a professional?

- Could you and your child manage online instruction at home?

- How can you best balance the physical with the social and emotional health of your child?

- What are the important job and economic circumstances in your home that might impact your decision?

- Regardless of your current decision, what plans can you put into place for a Plan B, should you change your decision in the future?

The health unit said it hopes these questions can help parents make an informed decision about sending their children back to school.

The province is funding 500 new public health nurses to rotate among the schools. Here in Sudbury, a total of 10 nurses will be hired.

“They’ll be helping with education training of educators, they’ll also be on the ground supporting any questions that school communities may have,” said Stacey Gilbeau, program manager at Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “They may have a role in surveillance and also in case contact management if need be.”

Both the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and the public system's Rainbow Board say teachers will be attending school for safety training from Sept. 1-3 before students arrive back to the classroom.