HWDSB asks Ontario for money to buy 2,000 more devices amid remote learning

The chair of Hamilton's public school board has penned a letter to Ontario's Ministry of Education highlighting five requests related to pandemic-era learning, including money for 2,000 more learning devices.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Chair Dawn Danko previously expressed frustration after the province said students would return to class on Jan. 5 before flip-flopping at the last second and reverting to remote learning until Jan. 17.

"A lot of families are still frustrated, and throughout the pandemic, time and time again, we've said to the government we need timely communication, we need clear planning and clear benchmarks so you can see what's coming," she previously told CBC Hamilton.

Besides being annoyed with the timing of the announcement, Danko's main question was what will the province do in two weeks to ensure remote learning doesn't stretch past Jan. 17.

"I'm not hearing anything concrete ... that doesn't make sense to me," she previously said.

Her letter on Thursday made five requests:

1. Priority access to vaccinations for front-line education workers and students.
2. Continued tracking and public reporting of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases in schools.
3. Ministry-funded or supplied high-quality masks for students. 
4. More technology funding to ensure every student receives a device for learning.
5. Transparent and timely communication to families and staff regarding changes to in-person learning.

Danko's letter notes a preliminary survey by HWDSB shows 8,000 students need a device — the board only has roughly 6,000 devices to offer, read her letter.

"During this critical stage of the pandemic, equity of access is vital to supporting the education needs of our students," she wrote.

She added while the ministry has provided some masks, there aren't enough.

Also, Danko wants students aged 12 to 17 to get priority access to vaccines as soon as possible.

Education, child-care staff getting priority for booster

CBC Hamilton contacted the province for comment.

For its part, Ontario announced Thursday it would offer greater access to booster shots for education and child-care staff.

Starting Friday, educators, custodial staff, administrative staff, school bus drivers and child-care staff will have priority booking for vaccines at the International Centre in Mississauga with appointments being made from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

Those not living in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton area will have to wait, but the province said there is similar access at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa or some City of Toronto-run clinics.