An Open Letter to Parents from Randy Pettapiece, MPP Perth-Wellington
Parents are rightly asking: Is this the time for kids to go back to school, and can it be done safely?
In most cases, the answer is “yes” — with the right plan.
In consultation with parents, teachers, school boards and Ontario’s top public health experts, the provincial government has been working very hard to develop that plan.
Pediatric and public health experts also tell us that children and teens benefit from social interaction with their peers. Parents know that, too.
Nearly $500 million in additional supports will be available to enhance physical distancing. Boards can access available community spaces and hire more teachers. An additional $50 million will improve ventilation and air quality.
Ontario’s plan to reopen schools includes over $300 million for resources, staffing and cleaning. This includes:
– $60 million for medical and cloth masks for students and staff;
– $30 million for teacher staffing;
– $50 million to hire up to 500 additional nurses to support schools and boards;
– $23 million to provide testing capacity;
– $75 million to hire hundreds of additional custodians and purchase cleaning supplies; and
– $40 million to clean school buses and student transportation.
Overall, it will mean up to $1.4 billion for the 2020-21 school year.
The province is also taking steps to make sure masks are used as often as possible:
– masks mandatory for all staff in school settings;
– students in Grades 4 to 12 required to wear masks on school property;
-students in kindergarten to Grade 3 encouraged to use masks;
– $20 million for students who arrive at school without a mask or unable to afford one; and
– reasonable masking exceptions for those with medical conditions.
Physical distancing is important, along with other strategies including adapted school environments, cohorting, hand hygiene, enhanced cleaning and masking. Ontario’s plan includes considerable infection-control measures for classrooms, washrooms and other shared spaces.
Medical experts have told us that in a classroom setting, one metre of physical distancing is sufficient to minimize risk.
Evidence from pediatric health professionals indicates that one metre of distancing is just as effective as two metres of distancing in a school setting.
For these reasons, elementary class sizes will remain the same in most cases. However, where school boards cannot maintain physical distancing of one metre, they can apply for additional funding for additional staffing that may be needed to provide this distancing.
Cohorting is also important. Students will be in cohorts to make contact tracing easier in the event of an outbreak.
Even the best plan cannot be perfect. Cases of COVID-19 in schools may emerge, and we must be prepared. The Ministry of Education is providing clear steps for schools and health officials in the event of positive cases. Health and education officials will be able to immediately identify, track and curb the spread of COVID-19.
Parents will have the option to enroll their children in remote learning if they feel it isn’t safe to send them back school. Of course we know that many families in our riding still lack reliable high-speed internet. This is a problem in rural areas and we are working hard to fix it with new investments.
To learn more about the province’s back-to-school plans, please visit https://bit.ly/30SUeXw.
