Thread by @coljmackay

Pg10 sick kids ‘Smaller class sizes should be a priority strategy as it will aid in physical distancing and reduce potential spread from any index cases.’ Think Ford/Lecce chose to ignore this, for elementary, from sick kids updated report. #onted #onpoli

Pg15 sick kids ‘Attention should be paid to improving classroom ventilation in consultation with experts in physical plant design and modifications.’ Was this mentioned by Lecce/Ford. Any money for this? Listening to teachers, this is a huge issue. #onted #onpoli

Pg18 ‘Physical distancing of school staff from children/youth
+ other staff should be emphasized. Teachers should maintain a distance of 2 m from students +other staff as much as possible, recognizing that distancing will not be feasible in classrooms with the youngest children.

Pg19 ‘Parents and caregivers need to be empowered by their employers to be able to take paid sick days and/or work remotely if their children/youth are not able to attend school.’ This seems impossible for too many. Did Lecce/Ford mention this? #onted #onpol from sick kids report

pg30 Full-time in-person school with basic risk mitigation. ‘Teachers + other school staff may not feel adequately protected with this approach.’ Understatement of the report! Masks were generally accepted as good. Not by all though. #onted #onpoli

Now on to the painfully written school reopening report. Should be um fun to read. #onpoli #onted. Basically Ford/Lecce decided not to make class sizes smaller, which, the sick kids report indicated - Prioroty Strategy! Why ignore that and bellow on about the report?

Gov’t report, ‘Specialized teachers, like French teachers, will still be able to go into classrooms to provide the full breadth of programming for students.’ A lot of contact for these teachers. Up to 200 people. #onted #onpoli

‘Students will also be able to leave their classrooms to receive additional supports but direct and indirect contacts in schools for students should be limited to approximately 50.’ Teachers need counters to keep track. #onted #onpoli

‘In order to reduce risk of transmission and to support contact tracing, school boardsare to develop timetables that over a 1 to 2 week period:

Limit indirect/direct student contacts to approximately 100 students in the school.’ Seems like a logistical nightmare. #onpoli #onted

‘Efforts to cohort secondary school students may impact the traditional four course delivery model in a semestered school and as a result, boards may need to adjust the school day for students’ shorter days and more remote learning. #onpoli #onted

‘This would require students to have relevant technological devices to complete their studies.’ Since they mention this, one could assume not all do. Study Hall classes. Synchronous learning. Taking different courses in school, teacher remote. #onted #onpoli Doubts about this.

Schools need $3.1B in repairs but gov’t insists. ‘School boards will be expected to adapt their school environments, both physically and operationally, to support the multiple protection strategies available.’ Includes ventilation? Who pays? #onted #onpoli

Carry on as normal but we will put this in our plan - An elementary student should be cohorted with their classmates + their homeroom teacher, with limited contact with other subject teachers for classes such as French as a second language/Anglais, the arts + physical education.

‘ A secondary student should be limited to approximately 100 student contacts. Boards are also encouraged to keep in-person cohorts to two classes, or with their grade, depending on the size of their high school’ Realistic? #onpoli #onted

‘Schools are encouraged to locate larger classes in larger spaces and to use all available space in a school, including gyms and libraries.’ We will ignore sick kids priority strategy of smaller class sizes is another way to put it. Make it work. #onted #onpoli Leece/Ford plan.

‘Boards are encouraged to develop supply lists to support continuity of learning and operations when teachers or staff complete their daily self-screening and choose to stay home.’ Expecting an avalanche of teachers to ‘choose’ to stay home? #onpoli #onted

My favourite. ‘Students in Grades 3 and 6 will not participate in EQAO assessments in the 2020-21 school year.’ Will save millions. $309 - savings from no EQAO = ? #onpoli #onted

‘Most overall expectations for the Music strand can be met without the use of instruments in both the elementary and secondary Arts curriculum.’ But it’s not nearly as much fun. #onpoli #onted

‘To align with physical distancing, schools should not plan field trips and activities requiring group transportation at this time, until public health data suggests otherwise.’ #onted #onpoli

‘All schools have a room that can be used should a student or staff member become ill, including PPE available in the room.’ Who watches the ill student? Space is at a premium too. #onted #onpoli

Final comment. Ford/Lecce ignored the smaller class sizes that the sick kids report said should be a priority strategy. Why was it ignored? Why put youngest children and education workers at higher risks. These questions deserve answers. #onpoli #onted. Too nice a day. Done!