In-person learning welcome, but back-to-school plan lacks detail: Hamilton educators, unions

Hamilton educators, their unions, school board chairs, local public health andan infectious diseases specialist say it's good to see students returning to class in September, but somewant a more robust reopening plan.

Ontario'sback-to-school plan was released Tuesdayand containsdetails aboutmasking, screening,extracurricular activities andoptional online learning. The plan states all staff and students Grade 1 and up must wear masks in indoor settings, with exceptions, such asduring meal breaks and low-contact physical activities. Also, team sports, field trips,assemblies, recessand extracurricular activities will be back on.

Itdoesn'tinclude muchonhow schools will manage COVID-19 cases and outbreaks.

More than 4,800 Ontario schools had to closeat some point between September andJune due to COVID-19 cases, with 11,462 students contracting the virus, provincial data shows.

Concerns about cohorting

"With regards to the plan that's in place ... I don'thave the confidence this is going todo the job," saidJoe Cappadocia, a secondary school teacher with Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB).

He has concerns about how the plan includes continuing tocohortstudents in classesbut not during extracurriculars or in common spaces, like gyms and cafeterias.

Jeff Sorensen, Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers' Local unionpresident, andDaryl Jerome, the local Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) president, echoed those comments.

"My members are obviously concerned but want to be back in the classroom," Jerome said.

Deb Turner, the incominglocal OSSTF president of office, clericaland technical staff, said she won't know exactly what to expect until she seeshow Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) incorporates the plan.

"Itleaves questions about the safety of our members and the students and communities they work with," she said in an email.

Sergio Cacoilo, the local Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association president for Hamilton secondaryschools, said he ishappy with what he sees so far, but said he's concerned it may be too soon to re-introduce extracurricular activities.

Public health waiting on details but supportsin-person classes

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's medical officer of health,said in a statement that public healthis still reviewing the reopening plan but is encouraged by what shehas seen so far.

"We do await further updates from the province as it relates to school reopening, including a revised symptoms checklist for screening, and school case, contact and school outbreak management guidance," read the emailed statement.

WATCH:Ontario students head back to the classrooms full-time this fall

Ontario students head back to the classrooms full-time this fall

3 years ago

Duration 1:57

Ontario has released its plan to get students back into the classroom in September, requiring masks indoors and allowing some activities to resume, but not mandating vaccines.

She said students ought to learn in-person because of how virtual learning and pandemic restrictions have impacted them.

McMaster Children's Hospital previously highlighted "frightening increases" in referrals of youthinto itseating disorders program, and hospitaladmissions following a suicide attempt or due to substance use disorders.

Richardsonalso said "the clock is ticking on community members getting protection with a first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine."

She said public healthiscollaborating with the public and Catholic school boardsand issetting up school-based COVID-19 vaccine clinics before the end of the summer and in September. Vaccines remain available onlyforthose age 12 and older.

Schools need to focus on recoveryplan: expert

Dawn Danko, HWDSB chair, andPat Daly, HWCDSB chair, both said they're also excited to see students return to in-person learning.

Danko said she hoped the plan would be more comprehensive but also said there is much less uncertainty this year compared to last year.

The previous school year saw school boards take theunprecedented step of reorganizingstaff and students with just over a weekbefore classesbeganafterthousands of families opted for online learning. The start of the year was fraught withclasses getting delayed, a bus driver shortage, technical issues with online learning and lots of uncertainty.

Dalyand Dankoalso hope the pre-pandemicsemesters and timetabling will return, particularly in secondary schools.

Dr. Martha Fulford, an infectious diseases specialistat McMaster Children's Hospital, said while people may want more details about the school reopening plan, children and youth usually have very mild symptoms, if any, when infected withCOVID-19.

She also said there isn't evidence that shows a lot ofCOVID-19 transmission in schools andthe benefits of having kids in school outweigh the cons, especially with people being vaccinated this time around.

"We're at a different phase of what we're dealing with because vulnerable adults are protected and so for thinking what's the best thing we can do for the health and well-being of our children, it's focusing on their losses," Fulford said.

"How are we going to help our kids recover? What are we going to do for reintegration, for helping them get over this, for dealing with mental health issues ... what are we going to do about thelost education deficits because of what's happened?"

Parents, students and teachers: We want to hear from you!

We hope you'll use this form to tell us about school conditions, how classes are going,orother pressing issueson your mind this September in Hamilton, Niagara, St. Catharines and Burlington areas.