Thread by @normsworld

Listening to this live. @JILLSLASTWORD calls for a #SafeSeptemberON. Our children are our most precious assets; must protect them at all costs. Let's get it right for our school communities. #SmallerIsSafer! #topoli #onpoli #onted

.@AndreaHorwath up now, introduces @etfopresident as well as a local St. Paul's parent. Horwath notes the superhuman efforts of parents since March. Notes the "bargain basement" back to school plan that doesn't inspire confidence in our school communities. #topoli #onpoli #Onted

Parents have no options if their child is sick in the morning; there's no paid sick days available, with the government removing the 2 paid sick days from the previous government. Also class collapsing will drive up numbers & full school buses. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Horwath notes that months ago, parents were promised paid sick days; they never materialized. Horwath urges Premier Ford to assure parents that paid sick days will be available to them. It's critical to make back to school work. #topoli #onpoli #onted #SmallerIsSafer

Horwath notes that if she was premier, she would have got started much earlier to find available space and funding for smaller cohorts, addressing ventilation and a host of other items that were left to the last minute by this government. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

.@etfopresident up now, reminds that back in June the government promised that school class sizes would be capped at 15, with Physical Distancing occurring in the class and on the bus. That isn't happening; promises were broken. Classes & buses at capacity now. #topoli #Onted

.@etfopresident notes that buses will be full and some classes only have 35cm between students; that's unacceptable. Classes are collapsed and in some places multiple grade splits happening (4/5/6). Empty classrooms abound. Gov't must fix this. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Elementary school parent up now, notes that with 1 1/2 weeks to go, there's still no plan for #PhysicalDistancing. Notes the government has cherrypicked advice, ignoring advice around #PhysicalDistancing and ventilation. This is unsafe, and risks our school communities. #onted

Telling parents they can opt out of back to school and that children must stay home when sick is unworkable and inequitable. Paid Sick leave is mandatory for this to work. Premier Ford said he wished he could do more. He can fund smaller class sizes & Paid Sick Leave. #onted

.@etfopresident notes that one board (UGDSB) has implemented streaming of in class to remote learners. This is an inequitable approach and is impossible for the teacher to keep all students engaged. I agree this is a bad idea. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

.@ColinDMello asks about 70% of parents opting to return to class, what does that say to you? @etfopresident rejects the premise that parents are "comfortable" sending their kids back to school; they have no other option. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

.@ColinDMello asks @etfopresident about collapsed classes; does he expect boards to use their reserves to avoid this? Hammond responds that he expects the Ministry of Education to adequately fund education. #topoli #onpoli #onted

.@etfopresident notes that individual members can refuse unsafe work. It cannot be done collectively. Individual circumstances would drive this refusal.

Horwath correctly notes that HVAC replacements must start just as school ends, to ensure proper asbestos abatement. This isn't the kind of thing you can fund or plan last minute. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Horwath calls the collapsing of classes, creating empty classrooms "shocking" and "ridiculous". Many classes approaching 30. If we have spaces in schools where children can properly Physical Distance, we should use them! #topoli #Onpoli #Onted