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Guelph MPP sends open letter to Premier on back-to-school plan

'If the Premier can’t answer parent questions, then he must get back to the drawing board and provide a new plan with the funding required to keep our kids safe'
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Guelph MPP and Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner file photo. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday

GuelphToday received the following letter addressed to Premier Doug Ford from Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner:

Dear Premier Ford,

With only weeks to go before schools reopen, I have many concerns with the back-to-school plan your government has proposed. I appreciate you may be “anxious” about this plan as well, but leadership is about providing solutions, not just words.

Parents across the province are confused by your government’s plan and feel unable to make educated decisions for their family.

I’m sure you have seen that over two hundred thousand concerned Ontarians have signed petitions demanding smaller class sizes and other changes to your plan.

I have reached out to some of these parents and teachers directly to learn about the primary concerns and questions that they still need addressed.

I’m writing to you today in the hopes that you will answer worried parents' questions directly, and that if you are unable to answer them confidently, that you will make immediate changes to your back-to-school plan.

Here are only some of the hundreds of questions I received:

  • Why do you refuse to reduce class sizes?
  • What will happen if a child, teacher or administrator at a school contracts Covid-19? Will the school be shut down? Will every child have to be tested?
  • How will before and after school programs be handled? Students at before and after care generally mix with kids from different student classes and even different schools. It seems that cohorts will mix in these cases. What is the plan for this?
  • Ottawa is giving Ontario $7 billion. Why won’t you put some of that towards safe schools?
  • Can grandparents feel safe seeing their families after September 8th?
  • Why can New Brunswick reduce class sizes but Ontario cannot?
  • How will crowding on school buses be addressed?
  • You are asking parents to keep kids home even for mild symptoms, but many parents don’t have paid sick days. Parents may still send their child to school because they have no choice. What options are you providing parents in this situation? 
  • Will there be any funding for School Boards to fix the ventilation systems in schools?
  • Is there a threshold for closing schools in the event of a second wave?

Premier, you have repeatedly said that you care about Ontario’s kids, and we believe you. But you are digging in your heels and underspending on our children when all evidence points to the need for lower class sizes, well ventilated learning spaces, a real outdoor learning curriculum and the need to hire more teachers. Your reluctance to fund these solutions just doesn’t make sense.

You have said you will spare no expense to protect our children. I implore you to put action behind your words.

Parents and children need a transparent and well funded back to school plan. Time is quickly running out. Please listen to Ontario’s parents, teachers and education staff, learn and make a change for the better.

The hundreds of thousands of concerned parents from across the province look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

Mike Schreiner
MPP Guelph
Leader, Green Party of Ontario


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