Throughout the pandemic, we have emphasized the importance of in-person learning to the
health, development, and well-being of our students. With that said, we previously recommended a variety of measures to the government to ensure that our schools are as safe as possible for our staff and students.

In the midst of this most recent wave in the pandemic, we want to express our ongoing confidence in our public health system, and our appreciation for the incredible work of our healthcare workers and leaders. In order to support the common good, as a society we must continue to do what is necessary to fight this threat, including vaccination and a commitment to masking.

We are very pleased to see that secondary schools will be able to return to normal semester models with four courses per day, as of February 2022 and earlier where scheduling permits, subject to local public health approval.

OPSBA and our member boards very much appreciate the release of the second half of the federal COVID-19 funding, for which we have strongly advocated.

The decision to give all students five rapid antigen tests to take home over the Winter Break will be welcomed by school communities across the province.

Free menstrual products will reduce barriers for students across Ontario. The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, many of our member boards, and student trustees have been calling on the government to provide dedicated funding for the purchase of menstrual products.

On September 30, in schools across Ontario, students, staff, and school communities will be commemorating the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, which more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were forced to attend between the 1870s and 1997.

We must do all we can to give our schools the greatest chance of staying open for in-person learning, which is vital to the mental health and development of our students. This vaccination regime, with frequent testing for those who choose to not receive or disclose having received a COVID-19 vaccine, is a positive step towards helping school boards ensure the safest possible environment for our students, staff, and school communities. Conversations about the best approach to mitigate the presence of COVID-19 in public schools must be continued.

We are very disappointed with the government’s decision today to go against the advice of Public Health Officials and the recommendation of school boards about the importance of reopening our schools.

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is releasing a new Discussion Paper, Transitioning from the COVID-19 School Experience, that reveals two compelling realities that must be addressed following the COVID-19 pandemic.