THUNDER BAY - The provincial government has updated its back to school plan and is unlocking $500 million for school boards to access in order to implement better physical distancing measures when students go back to the classroom in September.
Minister of Education Stephen Lecce made a special announcement on Thursday, where he outlined the province’s plan to allow school boards to use reserve funds to focus on greater physical distancing in schools.
“To do this, I will be expanding the ability of boards for this year only, to access reserve funding that can be immediately used for these priorities on greater social distancing,” Lecce said.
“The bottom line is, the concern that was cited is there needs to be more resources in place to ensure there is more distancing. This investment does that and allows school boards to do that.”
Boards that do not have access to reserve funds will benefit from an $11 million investment from the province.
The province will also be investing an additional $50 million for upgrades to ventilation, air quality, and HVAC systems in schools. An additional $18 million is being invested into online learning to help boards hire more staff to deliver and oversee synchronous, live learning.
“We are taking action to ensure live, synchronous learning is improved, providing parents with consistency and a timetable to mirror the in-class experience," Lecce said. "In order for remote learning to be successful, we are urging unions to embrace this form of learning that parents expect and students deserve."
Since it was announced earlier this month, the provincial government’s plan to reopen schools in September has been criticized by teachers unions, parents, and the official opposition.
Ontario NDP Health critic France Gélinas issued a statement following Lecce’s most recent announcement, saying the government is still doing little to offer comfort to concerned parents, students, and staff.
“Lecce’s announcement literally amounts to a reminder that some – not all – school boards have some reserve funds, and they can use them to try to plug some of the massive holes the Ford government has in its bargain basement back-to-school scheme,” Gélinas said.
“As for the pitiful $50 million for HVAC repairs announced today, every dollar is welcome but that amounts to 0.003 per cent of the necessary school repairs that are currently going ignored.”
Lecce was joined on Thursday by Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, who said the plan is safe.
“Students need to get back to school. We know there is no such thing as a totally risk free situation,” he said. “But you can be aware as you can be and weigh that risk.”
“Let me be perfectly clear, if the best medical minds in the province did not think it was safe for your child to go back to school, the choice would have been simple,” Lecce added.
“We are in a position where we are able to safely and confidently open schools, but with strict safety protocols to protect us all.”
Students in Thunder Bay will be returning to the classroom in September, five days a week, with normal class sizes.
