Students across Ontario will continue learning from home for the rest of the academic year, but what’s it going to take to make sure kids and teachers can safely return to the classroom come September?
Heather Hughes is the public relations officer with the Lambton Kent District School Board and says while they’re keeping up with all requirements from the Ministry of Education, it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen over the summer.
“Our senior administration as well as all of the staff are prepared to adapt to any changes that need to be put in place, but we are confident,” Hughes says. “We have had other successful school year, and we know that ability to change and implement any kind of new requirements, any health and safety measures that need to be put in place that we can do so and have done so effectively. We’re sure that will be done in a timely manner to prepare for September.”
Meantime, Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer Dr. David Colby says the answer to a safe return to school has far less to do with physical buildings than it does with the people involved.
“The major factor here is getting the kids vaccinated over the summer. That is really the most important thing with regard to getting kids back to school as safely as can be in September,” Dr. Colby says.