The following is an open Letter to Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. Send your letters to [email protected]
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Monday we started back to in-class learning. It’s a welcome change for the students, I’m sure. However, is it possible for you to explain the following discrepancies?
The Minister of Education and Premier were clear that opening schools would be based on following proper protocols. In a press release, the minister said, "We are reopening schools across the province knowing that we have taken additional steps and made additional investments to better protect our students and staff. Nothing is more important than returning kids to school safely because it is crucial for their development, mental health, and future success.”
Getting back to in-class learning is certainly important. We all want to get back to normal social interaction. So, it is important to look at how the protocols are being implemented – or not.
The government said it would require daily asymptomatic testing (rapid testing), distancing through reduced class sizes, and provision of funds for air filtration and PPEs.
Some existing funds were released as of this week though the bulk of federal exigency funds remain untouched. No asymptomatic testing is taking place nor has self-assessment been monitored. PPEs remain in short supply.
Our children are in a class of 28. Would have made sense to have these requirements planned out and ready to implement upon re-opening?
It would be helpful to parents to know which rules to follow and which to ignore. Please explain.
Dennis Rizzo
Orillia
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