Before taking questions today, Minister Lecce announced that high contact sports will be allowed indoors for the upcoming school year.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce faced the media today, after releasing Ontario's back to school plan on Tuesday.
Before taking questions he announced that high contact sports will be allowed indoors for the upcoming school year. This means kids will be able to play basketball and volleyball at the school level in 2021/22.
Lecce announced $25 million in funding to further improve ventilation in schools. The Province has now invested $600 million to improve air quality at schools. Lecce says they will also encourage teachers to open windows and do outdoor classes whenever possible.
"With yesterday’s release of health and safety measures for schools, students have a safe path to return to a more normal, in-person, full-time learning environment, which is critical to their mental and physical health. We are following the best expert advice by ensuring all schools have improved air ventilation, including deploying an additional 20,000 HEPA units, in total over 70,000 ventilation devices, to help ensure schools remain as safe as possible. With the work we have done, I am confident we will keep students and staff safe in our schools as we reopen for the 2021-22 school year."
Todays funding will use standalone HEPA filter units as a strategy for classrooms and spaces with challenges in achieving adequate ventilation. The Province has secured 20,000 filters for classrooms, libraries and other instructional spaces without mechanical ventilation. They will focus on kindergarten and junior kindergarten classes where students are not required to wear masks.
The press conference is just wrapping up now and Lecce is about to take questions.
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