As school year ends, educators already thinking about what next year will bring
With the end of the current school year just days away, educators in the Sudbury area are urging the Ford government to start planning for a safe return to in-person learning in September.
“Our hands are completely tied,” said Chantal Rancourt, with the Sudbury chapter of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association. “We’ve had the conversations we need to have at the school board level. The school boards had the conversations they have to have. But until we know what’s in place from the government, you can’t move forward with anything.”
Rancourt said both boards have already said the province's official plans won't be released until August.
"That doesn’t leave boards with a lot of time to prepare, depending on what is in that official plan," she said. "So I’d like to feel hopeful, but I’m cautiously optimistic perhaps.”
Officials said across the board, the goal for the upcoming school year is the same.
“It is the hope of every teacher that I talk to, to get back to in-person learning,” said Liana Holm, with the Sudbury chapter of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.
“We have to keep that focus on the health of students, on the health of teachers, on the health of our communities, rather than doing things like invoking a notwithstanding clause that takes away from the focus of what’s really good for the people where we live.”
Officials said the priority needs to be making classrooms safe over the summer with ventilation, social distancing and vaccines being a common theme.
“The more ventilation that you have in a school, the way better off everybody is going to be," said Holm. "If it takes the virus out of the room instead of letting it linger in the room, if they’re airborne, that is something that can only benefit everybody going forward.”
Officials said that money is also going to be essential to getting everyone back to some type of normal.
“We need some staffing for people to work on students who have learning gaps, special education students, vulnerable students who have high needs, the gap might be even wider than a regular school year and I believe we need some extra supports and mental health supports for students,” said Rancourt.
She said the time to start planning for September is now.
“I believe it’s unfortunate that we haven’t used this last year to start working on that," said Rancourt.
"I know sometimes when the government announces a lot of money for ventilation, that’s not something that can be done overnight. But let's use the summer, work with school boards, provide the funding for them to actually do the work on their ventilation systems. I believe that can be done during the summer -- or at least a big portion."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.