The Province Unveils Back To School Plan For Students And Teachers

Thursday, 30 July 2020 at 14:10

The plan will see elementary students return to school full time this September, while a majority of high school students, in groups of 15, will alternate their time between the classroom and learning online.

ONTARIO - The Province unveiled a plan for students and teachers so they can return to school in September.

Premier Doug Ford says they'll look to have students back in school in a way that looks and feels as much as it used to be.

"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, knowing that there is a detailed plan to keep our kids safe. A plan developed by the best health care experts and top doctors available to us. It's a plan that puts the health and safety of our kids first."

Premier Ford adds the plan will include important public health measures such as mandatory masks for teachers and staff and cloth masks for students from Grades 4 to 12. He says there will be exceptions to those with medical conditions.

Other public measures will include cohorting of students to limit contact with other students and staff, expanding testing in schools, frequent cleaning of the school buses and additional health and safety training for teachers.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce says parents will have the choice of enrolling their children inside of classrooms.

"We've heard loud and clear from medical and pediatric experts that COVID-19 has had profound mental health impacts on our kids, and now more than ever, reopening schools is crucial to the social, emotional development of Ontario students. It's also crucial to allowing parents to return to work and to support Ontario's economic recovery."

Lecce adds secondary schools with lower risk profiles will be able to reopen to return to class, in-person, five days a week.

The Province is also investing $309 million dollars into the plan, which will include:

- $60 million for masks and PPE.

- $80 million for staffing.

- $25 million for cleaning supplies.

- $10 million for health and safety training.

- $40 million for cleaning supplies and PPE for the school transportation system.

- $23.7 million for lab testing capacity.

- $50 million for additional public health nurses.

- $10 million for mental health supports.

- $10 million for students with special needs.