Return-to-school plan must allow for regional differences
At a time when Ontario is starting to recover from a global pandemic, I was disappointed to see the Star make a number of mischaracterizations of our government’s plan to reopen schools in September (“Ontario’s back-to-school plan gets an F for incomplete”).
The editorial acknowledges the reality that all governments are dealing with the uncertainty that COVID-19 has imposed on societies. Accepting that variable premise — yet rejecting the government’s decision to permit some regional variance based on public health data — only underscores an inconsistency applied by the editorial board.
Indeed, as it says, “learning in Moose Factory will always be different than in Mississauga,” and “some flexibility is of course required” when it comes to reopening strategies. Yet the commentary proceeds to lambast our government for allowing school boards to choose regionally informed reopening options based on the realities on the ground.
No province has unveiled a return to conventional instruction or fixed timelines for September, which appears to be the standard to which the editorial holds the Ontario government accountable. That begs the question: why is every province and territory in the same boat? Is it because of the “known unknown” reality we face, where the necessary course of action is to prepare for multiple scenarios?
Our plan provides medically informed health and safety protocols, describes the details of what an adapted model could look like, articulates practices for safe transportation and identifies key supports for students with special education needs. We are unwavering in our commitment to make sure all students are supported in their return to class.
The editorial also raises questions about the government’s commitment to set aside additional resources to keep schools clean. It asks: “Will that be enough? We don’t know.”
In Ontario, we’ve committed unprecedented new investments in the health, safety and educational continuity of students regardless of what September looks like. From $4 million for enhanced cleaning, $10 million to safeguard the mental health of students and $15 million to make sure students have the technology needed to transition seamlessly between inclass and synchronous online instruction if needed. These investments are in addition to more than $730 million in additional funding to our education system. To be clear: in September, there will be more money for staffing, cleaning and for student well-being.
We know there is more to do. But we also know it is highly imprudent to rhetorically raise the angst of parents.
I hold our public health experts in the highest regard, but I’ll remind the Star that they are not omniscient. For that reason, our government is working on a plan to support the full spectrum of learning scenarios for the 2020-21 school year.
Make no mistake: our goal is to ultimately return to a day-to-day model of learning. However, it must be safe. We know the editorial board often notes that political actors should listen to public health advice while making decisions. We agree.