It will be at least February 10th before local students are heading back to the classroom.
The province identified seven public health regions where the COVID situation was stable enough for students to return to in-class learning.
Some students with special needs who, for whatever reason, are unable to manage their classes online, are already back in school for face-to-face learning.
However, John Howitt, Director of Education with the Lambton Kent District School Board, says it will be at least a few weeks before local schools could be cleared.
“We have not been given any specific criteria that would come from the medical side, we would follow the direction from the command table as well as our local Medical Officers of Health,” Howitt says. “The province will not be considering any other openings until that February 10th end of the lockdown.”
The situation is complicated by the fact the two main boards cover the health unit regions of Chatham-Kent and Lambton County, with vastly different COVID caseloads. Some of the boards that have been given the go-ahead to reopen next week are in the same situation, and will only be opening a portion of their schools on Monday.
At the St Clair Catholic District School Board, Director Deb Crawford says they haven’t been given any extra information than what parents have.
“We were notified (Wednesday,) as was everyone else, there’s nothing further at this time.”
Both local boards say at this point there’s no specifics on additional health and safety measures for students once they do return to the classroom, whenever that might be.