Earlier today, the Ministry of Education released its requirements to all public-school boards on the expectations for school reopening in September. Although our staff still require a bit more time to absorb this new information and correlate them to our original Prelim Plans for School Reopening, I would like to share the following highlights with you.
Elementary SchoolsElementary (JK to Gr 8) students will be returning to schools 5 days a week
- Class sizes will align with those outlined in our collective agreements with the teacher’s unions
- All students JK – Gr 3 are encouraged to wear masks
- All students Gr 4 or higher are required to wear masks
- Many safety measures will be in place such as hand hygiene, masks/face coverings and/or shields, physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, enhanced cleaning, and staying with cohort for duration of school day and staggering lunch and recess.
- We will also be actively screening both staff and students and working with Toronto Public Health should contact tracing be required.
- School boards will need to be exploring ways to minimize excessively large class sizes, which could require additional teachers.
- Full time remote learning will be available for parents electing to keep their children home (see slide 30 of the TDSB Prelim Reopening Plans in link below)
Secondary SchoolsSecondary school students will be returning to school 5 days a week following a system very similar to the adapted model outlined in our prelim plans for reopening (see slide 33 of the TDSB Prelim Reopening Plans in link below)
- Students will spend 50% of the day in class, and 50% of the day learning remotely at home
- All students are required to wear masks
- Full time remote learning will be available for parents electing to keep their children home (see slide 42 of the TDSB Prelim Reopening Plans in link below)
Special Education
- We will offer daily attendance to students with special education needs where an adapted schedule or remote learning may be challenging based on student needs.
- Focus on the use of assistive technology and updating IEPs based on school learning environment and remote learning needs.
- Special considerations are needed for the returning to school of medically fragile students.
- Continue with transition plans to ensure a safe return to school for students with special education needs.
Funding
- Ministry has indicated more funding to support plans but TDSB has no firm numbers yet on funding levels at this point. More information are required.
Further Return to School Pre-Registration Surveys for Parents
- Once the details are finalized, the TDSB will be surveying parents to determine their intensions to send their child to school in September or keep them at home and opting for remote learning. This information will be essential for the Board to plan for staffing, class sizes, and school space capacity. The Board will also be surveying staff for their intentions as well. The surveys should begin in a week’s time.
Please see below link for the Province of Ontario’s Back to School Plan
https://jamesli.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ontario-School-Reopening-Plan.pdf
Please see below link for TDSB’s Preliminary School Reopening Plan
https://jamesli.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TDSB-Preliminary-School-Reopening-Plans-July-15.pdf