Ontario Minister of Education announces that schools will be opening this month: York, Peel and Toronto, on Tuesday, Feb 16th, and balance of the schools open NEXT WEEK Monday Feb 8th.
He said they will be watching the community infection numbers very closely, but they are down for example, from over 1,100 in December down to 200 in Toronto...In addition to the positive trends in community rates, there are new measures and protocols, 25,000 added to testing regime, plus active screening on entry into school. There are new public health units opening February 8th and 16th to reach up to 50,000 test capacity...stricter screening for high school kids.. hired 3,400 additional teachers, and on track to hire 890 more because of the high rates of teacher absenteeism, which in some boards is 40%, they have capped student class size at 15... hiring more EAs, more custodial staff, comprehensive intervention such as staggered start time, increased PPEs, taking action for increase cleaning.
He ended his announcement thanking parents for their patience and partnership and collective sacrifices. Here is the you tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmitlPnAQG4
and more details in this CBC news article
https://www.cbc.ca/.../lecce-schools-southern-ontario
Quick Facts copied from the Province of Ontario media release:
He said they will be watching the community infection numbers very closely, but they are down for example, from over 1,100 in December down to 200 in Toronto...In addition to the positive trends in community rates, there are new measures and protocols, 25,000 added to testing regime, plus active screening on entry into school. There are new public health units opening February 8th and 16th to reach up to 50,000 test capacity...stricter screening for high school kids.. hired 3,400 additional teachers, and on track to hire 890 more because of the high rates of teacher absenteeism, which in some boards is 40%, they have capped student class size at 15... hiring more EAs, more custodial staff, comprehensive intervention such as staggered start time, increased PPEs, taking action for increase cleaning.
He ended his announcement thanking parents for their patience and partnership and collective sacrifices. Here is the you tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmitlPnAQG4
and more details in this CBC news article
https://www.cbc.ca/.../lecce-schools-southern-ontario
Quick Facts copied from the Province of Ontario media release:
- To date, Ontario has supported:
- the hiring of 3,400 teachers (with an additional 890 projected to be hired);
- the hiring of 1,400 custodians (with an additional 400 projected to be hired);
- the hiring of over 500 principals, vice-principals and admin staff to support new virtual schools;
- the hiring of up to 650 educational assistants, mental health workers and professionals to provide special education and mental health supports; and,
- over 23,000 HEPA filters and 20,000 portable HEPA units, and nearly 3,000 other ventilation devices.
- In recognition of the additional costs facing many families during this period, Ontario is providing support through an expanded Support for Learners program. Since the start of the pandemic, Ontario has allocated nearly $900 million in direct financial support to families. Applications under the Support for Learners program close on February 8, 2021.
