The Lambton-Kent District School Board supports the reopening of schools as soon as the province gives in-person learning the green light.
The school board's Public Relations Officer Heather Hughes said schools are ready whenever the province gives the go ahead for in-school classes. Hughes said local schools would be open on whatever date is ordered by the province.
"We have throughout the year transitioned from remote learning to in-person learning and we are ready should the decision to reopen be made. We're ready to move on those decisions from the province. So, we would follow that provincial direction and be ready to go," said Hughes.
Students have been learning from home since the middle of April because of a surge in COVID-19 cases province-wide.
Both directors of education at the public and Catholic school boards have said all along that they support in-class learning because it's better for the students' mental health. Lambton-Kent District School Board Education Director John Howitt has also previously said students learn better at school and academic outcomes are better.
"We know we're social animals," said Howitt.
He remains optimistic that students will be back to school before the end of the school year.
Similarly, the St. Clair Catholic District School Board said it's ready to transition from remote learning back to in-person classroom learning as soon as they receive that direction from the Government of Ontario.
"We look forward to seeing our students back in class, whenever the province makes that decision," said the board's Supervisor of Communications and Community Relations Todd Lozon.
The Director of Education at St. Clair Catholic District School Board Deb Crawford has said before that she hopes the school year is not lost and that students can return to class before the end of June.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby previously noted that he supports local schools being open because of the low number of cases in the region. He has said that students who have caught the virus have become infected outside of the school, not in the classroom, and they can isolate at home when that happens and not disrupt classroom learning for the rest.
"We've been really proud of our staff throughout this whole year being able to make those transitions according to requirements and we are prepared to pivot whenever that is necessary," Hughes added.
Chatham-Kent Public Health has reported seven school outbreaks in the past 14.5 months involving 19 total cases.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said learning is a social process and hopes to see students return to in-person learning before the end of the school year.
Hughes also noted the school board is not aware of any discussions to extend the school year to make up for lost time, but added they would of course follow direction from the province if that decision is made.
On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford asked pediatric and medical experts, local medical officers of health, and education partners for their advice on the possible reopening of Ontario’s schools and how to do it safely.
