Lecce Announces $381 Million in Additional Funding for Schools

Monday, 1 February 2021 11:34

Parents in Haldimand Norfolk, Brant County, Waterloo Region and Huron Perth are going to have to wait another couple of days at least before finding out if their kids can head back to class next week.

ONTARIO - No word on when students in hot zone regions can return to class.

Thousands of kids are back in class today in the TVDSB and LCDSB. Surrounding regions including Huron Perth, Brant, Brantford, Haldimand Norfolk and Waterloo Region are still doing online learning. Many hoped we would have more clarity with an announcement from Education Minister Stephen Lecce and the Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams. That clarity was not provided at all. Minister Lecce did say they hope to make another announcement in the coming days.

What the Government did announce was another $381 million dollars to help prepare schools for kids to come back to class:

- Provincewide access to targeted asymptomatic testing for students and staff, using a combination of lab-processed PCR and rapid antigen tests;

- Mandatory masking for students in Grades 1-3, including outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained;

- Enhanced screening of secondary students and staff;

- New guidance discouraging students from congregating before and after; and

- Temporary certification of eligible teacher candidates who are set to graduate in 2021 to stabilize staffing levels, following high levels of absenteeism.

Dr. David Williams was asked specifically about Brant County where says they still want to see students back in class next week.

"We use a number of metrics and we also consult with local medical officers of health. In the case of Brant, we discussed it with the local Medical Officer of Health, who was not comfortable at this time to open and we respected that opinion of what was going on in the community."

Dr. Williams did say they still want to see more kids back in class in next week.

"We want to be able to say, just like in the Fall, it's safe, it's a good place to go to school and we are watching, we are not ignoring it and we are being careful. So we are hopeful and we are looking at the February 10th date of having all those things in place."

Stay tuned for more school announcements, which are expected this week.