Parents struggling with back to school decision as deadline looms

Some parents in Ottawa say they're still struggling to decide whether to send their children back to class next month or keep them home to learn remotely.

The deadline to make that decision for children in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)is tonight at midnight. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 70 per cent of parents had submitted the required form.

Yet, information about what the next school year will look like continues to change.

The board sent an email to parents Saturday stating that it would have anupdated back-to-school plan by end of dayWednesday.

The surprise announcement came after the board held anemergency meeting Friday night that addressedthe controversial return to class forhigh school students.

Parents feel rushed

Jennifer Howes' 14-year-old daughter, Charlie,will be starting Grade 9 at Canterbury High School in September. Howes is waiting until tonight's deadline to submit the form stating whether her daughter will return to the classroom or not.

"It's stressful," she said."I want to make sure that I have as much up-to-date information as I can before I push the button to make that final decision."

Howes said she's most likely going to send her daughter to school but that she reserves the right to reverse that decision if something changes that worries her.

Herbiggest concerns are around the fact the school board waited until mid-August to release its plans and how much information is being given to parents to make their decisions.

Christine Moulaisonhas four children in elementary school but hasn't made a decision whether to send her kids to school because her eldest daughter has Type 1diabetes.

"We want to make sure that nothing compromises her health," she said.

Moulaison's youngest child is startingkindergarten where the kids in his class will be between the ages of three and six-years-old. She doesn't believe children that young will be able to follow all public health rules.

Her family is weighing its options, including possiblykeeping some children home while sending others to school.

"I'm not going to rush in and put a decision in and then wonder what I'm doing," shesaid."I know a lot of parents have that concern. AmI doing the right thing? Isit the right decision?"

She said she'll likely end up enrolling her three eldestchildren for in-class learning, but plans to change that decision if the city's COVID-19 infection ratesurges between now and September.