Legislative Update – August 9, 2021

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario remains adjourned for the summer with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) returning on September 13, 2021.

COVID-19 Update / Return to School Fall 2021

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has announced the province’s plans for the fall return to school. The plan, entitled COVID-19: Health, Safety and Operational Guidance for Schools (2021-2022), outlines the school protocols for elementary and secondary panels and provides details on transportation, extra-curricular activities and mental health supports.

See the supporting supporting memo from the Minister and the Deputy Minister, including the Appendix chart of extra-curricular activities.

Note: The Minister has indicated this chart will be updated to allow close contact sports (i.e. basketball) to take place indoors.

See OPSBA President Cathy Abraham’s media statement.

Following this announcement, more information was released about ventilation supports. The Minister announced this via a news release, Ontario Further Improving School Ventilation and backgrounder, Ontario’s Improvements to School Ventilation Systems. Supporting both these communications is Memo B14, School Ventilation. OPSBA will continue to work with its member boards about their back to school plans and share any barrier information with the ministry.

On August 5, the Ministry of Education sent a memo to schools boards about reporting COVID-19 cases/school closures and confirmed that these will continue to be publically posted on their website. The first public posting of data will be on September 14, 2021. Boards have also been asked to reconfirm their “COVID-19 contact person (COVID-19 Board Lead)” and share that information by August 23, 2021.

See the July 30 memo re: COVID-19 Vaccination Encouragement.

OSTA-AECO News

The new leaders of the Public Board Council (PBC) of OSTA-AECO began their term on August 1, 2021. OPSBA once again congratulates President Jazzlyn Abbott of the Renfrew County DSB and Vice-President Aisha Mahmoud of the Hamilton-Wentworth DSB. Also, a reminder about the Volume of Our Voices, a three-part series by OSTA-AECO highlighting student stories. Volume One focuses on the impact that COVID-19 has had on public education; Volume Two centres on how students’ race, ethnicity, nationality, or cultural identity have shaped their school experience; and Volume Three features how students’ gender identities or sexual orientations have shaped their school experience.

AMO Virtual 2021 AGM and Conference

The City of London is hosting this year’s virtual AMO conference from August 15 to 18. Registration is online. The event will include a Women’s Leadership Forum as well as multiple Ministers’ Forums.

Other News Releases and Information