Education unions skeptical Hamilton schools will stay open for in-person learning
Public school teacher says there's an 'absolute sense of fear' from educators upon return to class
Unions representing Hamilton education workers are skeptical of Ontario's plan to reopen schools next Wednesday and think students won't spend much time in classrooms before reverting to remote learning.
The province announced on Thursday students will return to in-person learning on Jan. 5, instead of two days earlier.
It said it would give staff N95 masks, will provide 3,000 more HEPA filters for Ontario schools and, for now, will only allow low-contact indoor sports and some extra-curricular activities.
It also said kids under 12 and anyone with COVID-19 who has been vaccinated only needs to isolate for five days after first experiencing symptoms. If the symptoms improve for at least 24 hours and they follow public health measures, they can stop isolating.
"Schools should be the last to close and first to open ... our kids have sacrificed a lot in 20 months," Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said during the press conference Thursday afternoon.
He said the two-day delay was enough of a buffer time instead of pushing back the reopening by a week the way B.C. and Nova Scotia have done. Some cities in Ontario have a later start, with Niagara school boards for instance going back Jan. 10, due to a later start of their Christmas holiday.
Questions and concerns from unions, students, teachers
Hamilton public health has said keeping schools open is among its top priorities.
Local schools are pushing forward with a Jan. 5 start, but Nick de Koning, president of the local Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association (OECTA), said he expects schools won't stay open long as Omicron spreads quickly.
"You have a classroom full of students eating lunch every day without their masks on. And if this variant is so contagious, how do you expect this not to spread in schools?" he asked.
Laura Christian, a Grade 3 teacher with Hamilton's public school board, agrees.
"There's absolutely a sense of fear," she said when asked about how educators are feeling about next week.
She said she feels safer knowing she'll have an N95 mask but added she wishes she had access to one sooner.
Susan Lucek, president of Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union (COPE) Local 527 — which mainly represents educational assistants — said she has "grave concerns" for staff, pointing to a record number of retirements and resignations from her members "due to exhaustion."
Many of her members work with special education students, many of whom don't wear masks.
Masking is an issue among all students according to Caspian Richard, a Grade 9 student in the public system.
"They don't really follow protocol," he said. "They hug each other, they're spitting on each other, their masks are off, they're running around, switching seats, it's not very sanitary."
Still, he's happy to be back to see his friends. His mother said despite the risks, she feels having Richard in school outweighs the risks to his mental health and development.
Daryl Jerome, Hamilton's Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation president, said students should also get N95 masks, educators need more rapid tests and educators need better access to booster shots.
Sergio Cacoilo, the local Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association president for Hamilton secondary schools, said 3,000 HEPA filters is not enough for Hamilton schools, let alone the whole province.
Cacoilo added he doesn't understand why the start of school is being delayed by just two days.
Hamilton school boards hustling to prepare for Wednesday
Pat Daly, chair of the Catholic school board, echoed that comment, particularly if the N95 masks and HEPA filters don't arrive before then.
The public and Catholic school boards worked Thursday evening preparing communications for families, students and staff. Public school director Manny Figueiredo said he was unable to comment Thursday due to those very meetings.
At least three hours after the announcement from the province, school boards were still waiting from a memo from the Ministry of Education with specific details on reopening.
Both school boards said they have ordered N95 masks but don't know when they'll arrive. When the masks do show up, they'll need to fit test them on staff members. They're also waiting for an unknown amount of HEPA filters that will arrive at an unknown time.
WATCH: Ontario will push back the return to school to Wednesday, Jan. 5
Daly said the masks and filters are appreciated but the other silver lining in the announcement is the reduced isolation time, which will free up education workers.
"There has been a significant staffing shortage in our board and boards across the province," he said.
Daly said he understands the safety concerns brought up by unions but said the board is committed to follow public health's direction and make schools as safe as possible.
"I really hope and pray we do not pivot, but I don't want to speculate."
Richards, the Grade 9 student, isn't as optimistic.
"It's false hope," he said.
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