Unions sound the alarm on teachers' safety fears in return to classrooms

Union leaders for area public school teachers and support staff are upset over the lack of consultation before a decision was made to send them back into schools across Windsor and Essex County starting Monday when special needs students will return for a full day in classrooms.

Ontario's education ministry issued a Dec. 23 memo to school boards regarding a return to school following the Christmas holiday break.

Many school boards across Ontario are taking this upcoming week to consult with teachers on a strategy to help ensure a safe return for both staff and students to classrooms.

But local units for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario were instead simply informed last week by administrators that dozens of their members who work with special needs students were expected in class starting Monday with no extra COVID-19 planning or precautions in place.

The two unions issued a statement that says while teachers and support workers are “committed to providing a quality education” for special needs students, “the safety and well-being of the community, including the workers within our education system, cannot be ignored.”

“The decision by the school board was hasty and unnecessary,” the statement said. “As a result, any outbreak that occurs in schools next week will fall squarely onto the shoulders of (school board) leadership.”

Roughly 60 teachers, 90 support staff, plus 300 elementary and secondary students who are part of the special needs program under the Greater Essex County District School Board were scheduled to return Monday.

The remainder of public school elementary students — who have not opted out for remote learning — are expected back in class the following Monday (Jan. 11), while secondary school students are slated to return Jan. 25.

Mario Spagnuolo, head of the board's elementary teachers union, on Saturday noted how special needs students are being too quickly being rushed back into classrooms, given how virus numbers locally are soaring and now a new virus strain is moving across the globe with nobody “knowing the effects on young children.”

“We need to be proactive and work together effectively on safety protocols moving forward,” he said.

Concerns about health safety involving special needs students and staff are especially heightened given the proximity they must work together, plus many of the children are unable to wear a mask.

“Other school boards are waiting a week and sitting down with their teachers and support staff to work out a plan that works for everyone,” Spagnuolo said. “Our board chose not to do that and start on Monday.

“Beyond an impact on the classrooms, there is also community spread. The medical officer of health shut down schools a week early prior to the (holiday) break when the numbers were better than they are now. I can't see the logic for returning (Monday) without improved health safety protocols with numbers that are far worse now.”

But school board Director Erin Kelly countered Saturday she believes sufficient precautions are in place with all school safety plans having been reviewed by the Windsor-essex County Health Unit.

Consultation with parents of area special needs students also showed “85 per cent supported the return,” she said.

“We will be welcoming back our special education students and those with complex needs starting on Monday,” Kelly said.

“We do recognize safety and precaution is of the utmost importance.

“The plan was reviewed and approved by the health unit and the unions have reviewed it. The timelines were tight, but we are moving forward in supporting students with complex needs and ready to welcome them back into the system.”

Overall, she noted the quick return Monday is for only roughly 300 special needs students out of the board's 36,500 students.

“If any parents are worried, they have the option of making their own choice, Kelly said. “There are other learning agendas available for them.”

Aside from having health unit approval for their classroom return, Kelly believes safety will be further enhanced by having “a smaller number of people in the building” until full student bodies return over the following weeks.

But Erin Roy, union president for area public board high school teachers and support staff, said Saturday an “unnecessary risk” is being taken without further consultation taking place first between school employees and board administration to develop a safe strategy.

“This is not the first time we have not been consulted,” she said. “We get called, informed on what's happening, they put out a memo and that's it. Since the beginning of the school year, we started to see some improvements on that, but then we were blindsided again on this happening now.”

Not only are teachers and school staff not being consulted by their own board, Roy said, but attempts to reach out to the health unit have also been ignored with a response they are dealing on all virus safety issues in schools with “the employer.”

“Special needs (students) often can't wear masks, you have more COVID in our community and there has been more in our schools,” she said. “Windsor does not have the best track record right now.

“We would love to be in consultation. I have asked and don't get answers. I know the health unit has a huge job, but that's not OK. Some teachers are concerned about returning to school — for students and themselves. I hope nothing happens, but if it does …”

To date, there also has been no further consultation with union leaders regarding the full return of elementary school students the following week on Jan. 11 or when secondary school students are expected back on Jan. 25, Roy said.

If any added safety measures are required prior to the return of elementary and secondary school students, the public school board will follow the direction of the education ministry and local health unit, Kelly countered.

“We will be ready and prepared to welcome students on the return dates,” the board's director said. “it's certainly a challenging time for everyone, but we want everyone feeling positive heading back into our schools.”