Province funnels more money for school safety
By Cecilia Nasmith
The Ontario government is providing more than $9-million in grants to the four school boards to enhance safety as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Though transmission in schools has been low, the announcement from Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said, this funding will be used to improve air quality and ventilation, support on-line learning, promote student mental health and hire additional staff.
Grants to the four boards will take the form of allocations in four areas - $2,354,100 for improving air quality, $2,875,980 for health and safety, $402,668 for student transportation and $3,521,176 for technological devices.
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is receiving $882,200 for air quality, $1,042,678 for health and safety, $106,851 for student transportation and $1,284,398 for technological devices.
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board is receiving $367,900 for air quality, $473,352 for health and safety, $57,409 for student transportation and $571,399 for technological devices.
Conseil scolaire catholique Mon Avenir is receiving $541,300 for air quality, $548,982 for health and safety, $139,533 for student transportation and $667,790 for technological devices.
Conseil scolaire de district catholique du Centre-Est de l'Ontario is receiving $562,700 for air quality, $810,968 for health and safety, $98,875 for student transportation and $997,589 for technological devices.
These funds are part of an additional $381-million being provided through the Federal Safe Return to Class Fund, with schools across Ontario receiving more than $1.6-million for enhanced protection to students, staff and families.
"We agree with parents and medical experts that kids need to be learning in class - alongside their friends and teachers - as it is crucial for their mental wellbeing and development,” Piccini said in the announcement.
“We will continue to follow expert medical advice and work to get all schools open, for children in all regions of our province. We will continue to strengthen our plan with tougher measures and new investments.”
The province has drawn on the best data available – including the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Hospital for Sick Children, and leading medical and scientific experts – to support a safe return to in-person learning for students and staff. All were encouraged by the transmission data on COVID-19 cases in schools during the fall.
To support students’ safe return - again, on the best advice of experts – Ontario is introducing additional measures, including:
Province-wide access to targeted asymptomatic testing for students and staff, using a combination of lab-processed PCR and rapid antigen tests
Higher-quality masks and mandatory masking for students in Grades 1-3, including outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained
Enhanced screening of secondary students and staff
New guidance discouraging before- and after-school congregating by students and discouraging on- and off-site congregating by staff
Temporary certification of eligible teacher candidates who are set to graduate this spring to stabilize staffing levels at a tine of high levels of absenteeism
With expanded masking requirements, parents and guardians are expected to provide masks for their children to attend school each day. To ensure a back-up supply is available if needed, the province is providing an additional 3.5-million higher-quality masks for students, which will meet the enhanced three-ply standard of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
