Teachers' union calls on province to consult on COVID-19 safety measures before schools reopen

With just two months before the new academic yearbegins, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) says it wants to see a concrete plan from the province for reopening schools well before late August.

Teensin Ontario will be eligible to book appointments for their second dose of COVID-19vaccines starting Monday at 8 a.m. The expansion in eligibilitymeans more secondary school students will befully vaccinated thissummer before going back to school in September.

Karen Littlewood, president of OSSTF,said she applauds the Ontariogovernment's "reopening metrics," saying they're "really helpful" and provide "a lot of safety and reassurance." But more is needed becausethe September semester is approaching, she says.

Among other things, the union is calling forimproved ventilation and air filtration in school buildings, a possible reduction of class sizesand continued masking if necessaryto ensure the federation's 60,000 members, students returning to schooland their parentsfeel reassured that the schools are safe. The union represents 20,000 teachers.

"We need to know this information well before the last week of August," Littlewood said. "To have consultations with the government about this would be incredible.We really haven't been consulted along the way and it would be helpful if we could have a say."

Teens received 2nddoses at Peel youth-focused clinic

Peel Region held a youth-focused clinic at Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga on Saturday. Many teens received their second dose shots, including Hamza Salama, 13,and his older brother.

"I'm excited to see my friends, playing soccer again, and doing a lot of stuff with my family and going back to Egypt," Salama said.

It's a step closer to normalcy for thousands of students across the province.

Paul Sharma, Peel Region's mass vaccination program's co-lead, said heis hopeful for a safe return to school.

"Being vaccinated is the one tool that will actually keep them well to prevent the risk of COVID-19 being transmitted, but also for them to go back in person and hang out with their friends and their peers for that mental and social well-being," he said.

The Ontario education ministrysaid it's spending $1.6 billion to get students back to full-time in-person learning.

"With all students 12+ and education workers prioritized for double vaccination prior to September, this will enable more flexibility and allow for a more normal in-class learning experience," Caitlin Clark, spokesperson for Education Minister Stephen Lecce, said in an email on Saturday.

"We strongly encourage all who are eligible, including education and child care workers, to roll up their sleeves to get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect our schools and help end this pandemic," Clarkadded.

Littlewood is hopeful after seeing an uptick in 12 to 17 year-olds getting their shots andshe wants an increase in teenvaccinations across the province to ensure all of Ontario's schools are safe environments.

She said while "face to face" is the best way to deliver education,schools, public health units, and the province will have to make sure "every precaution is in place."