The balancing act continues for the Ontario government and educators as to the speed for reopening schools.
Director of Education with the Lakehead School board, Ian McRae, is hopeful it happens soon, even if it’s just for a few weeks next month.
“Re-establish relationships with their peers and teachers, and we think it will make a difference, and it’ll certainly get them back into a routine, and prepare them for the fall which we hope will be a normal return,” hopes the director.
He adds they are ready, as long as all health protocols are maintained, and Thunder Bay’s COVID-19 number stays low.
As for Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, he would like to see students head back to class before other services and businesses are allowed to resume.
Dr. David Williams says it’s a different situation than it was when schools were shuttered early last month. “Now we’ve dropped the age down, where not only are the students getting vaccinated, but now the parent of the students down to J-K age, many of them are getting vaccinated.”
He says there also has to be confidence among staff, parents, school board and medical officers of health to open.
On the federal scene, an Angus Reid poll shows slightly more Canadians want the border with the United States to stay closed to the summer, as opposed to those who want it opened now.
