Public board wants more details on back-to-school plan

By Ron Giofu

ESSEX COUNTY — Trustees with the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) discussed the public board’s back-to-school plan for almost four-and-a-half hours last week but still wanted more information.

Trustees wanted more information on an outbreak plan should students or staff contract COVID-19 symptoms and asked that administration provide more details on what that plan would look like. Trustee Julia Burgess made the request, believing trustees need to obtain that information with parents also very eager to know what that will look like. Trustee Aimee Omstead agreed, saying it is important for parents to have that information before making a choice on whether to send their children back to class.

It was one of many motions that were debated at last Tuesday night’s meeting. Public board trustees agreed to send a letter to the Ontario government requesting additional funding to reduce class sizes to 15 at the elementary level though administration warned of challenges. Superintendent Todd Awender cautioned there is not enough space in most schools to accommodate that.

“The space would not be there,” he said.

Trustee Cathy Cooke said she was still concerned over class sizes and supported the motion that was put forth by trustee Linda Qin.

“I don’t think we are doing enough,” said Cooke. “We need to step up and be loud. We need to support this and do it.”

“Let’s think outside the box,” added Omstead, suggesting churches, gyms, community centres and outdoor classrooms be used.

Trustees voted down a motion to have staff do temperature checks at schools either at entry or during the morning hours. Administration had called for self-screening by staff and parents before coming to school, with director of education Erin Kelly suggesting there could also be union ramifications.

“Why not?” Omstead asked of temperature taking. “It’s one more level of protection. Safety is paramount here. I don’t think it’s asking too much.”

“I personally believe it adds assurance,” added Cooke. “It may not be perfect but it adds assurances.”

Cooke also didn’t believe it would cause line-ups to get into buildings, as administration believes.

“It doesn’t take forever. It does not hold up lines,” she said.

There were also concerns over masks and some trustees had a desire to have all grades wear them. As it stands, masks for students in Grades 4-12 will be mandatory with it being “strongly encouraged” for JK-Grade 3. Burgess and Omstead had particular concerns over Leamington and Kingsville with Omstead saying she has seen churches in that area with 200-300 cars at it and people regularly not wearing masks in stores.

“Putting students and staff in school without masks is leading us to danger,” Omstead believed.

Burgess and Omstead also floated the concept of having schools in Leamington and Kingsville start later in September due to risks over the virus but Kelly indicated that was not possible.

“We are legally bound,” said Kelly. “We have to keep schools open and have to have them open for children who want to attend.”

Kelly noted during her presentation the elementary schools will be open for five days per week with a quadmester system also to be used at the secondary level. The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board is also instituting a quadmester concept. Under the public board’s plan, secondary students in cohort “A” would attend school Mondays and Thursdays and alternating Wednesdays while cohort “B” would attend Tuesdays and Fridays and alternating Wednesdays.

Superintendent Shelley Armstrong indicated the GECDSB is “adopting multiple levels of safety protocols” including social distancing and hand washing to removing excess furniture and having “grab and go” snacks on nutrition breaks. Cafeterias and lockers will not be used at the secondary level, she added.

“There will be no rentals or community use of schools until at least Dec. 31,” said Armstrong.

Bus drivers will keep a record of their cleaning protocols, she added, and there will be a maximum of 48 students per bus with students to be assigned seats based on classroom cohorts or they will sit with family members. More details on that plan are at www.buskids.ca, she noted.

Cooke did not think assigned seating on a bus is a doable plan. “It will not work. It will never work,” she said. Trustees also discussed topics such as portables, ventilation, and use of PPE among other issues.