Ontario Govt. Announces Reopening Plan For Schools

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The Government of Ontario has released their plan for the reopening of schools across the province.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says publicly funded elementary schools will be reopening province-wide in September, five days a week, and most secondary schools will reopen under an “adapted model” that “limits the size and interaction of students.”

He says at secondary schools, groups of 15 students will alternate between in-person and online classes with students at lower risk schools returning to school in-person five days a week.

Lecce says parents will still be able to decide whether or not to send their children to school, or to have them participate in “live, online, teacher-led synchronous learning.”

He also announced there will be a “safe reopening” of licenced childcare centres at full capacity starting September 1st.  EarlyON Child and Family Centres will be permitted to reopen with in-person programming along with before and after school programs for school aged children. The province says all of these programs will be subject to health and safety protocols.

Premier Doug Ford says masks will be mandatory for teachers and staff, and cloth masks will be mandatory for students from grades 4 to 12, with exceptions for those with medical conditions. Masks will be optional for students in younger grades.

Ford says expanded testing in schools, cleaning, cohorting of students and additional health and safety training for teachers will contribute to safety at schools.

“Parents, we want you to know that on September the 8th you can drop your child off at school knowing that every possible measure is being taken to keep our children safe,” Ford said.

The province is expected to release further details soon.