Windsor-Essex's English-language public school students now know what they will face when school resumes next month.
The Greater Essex County District School Board revealed on Monday night its plan to safely return students, teachers, and staff to the classroom after the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled the school year in mid-March.
As in the rest of the province, students in grades one through 12 will begin classes on Tuesday, September 8. Kindergarten students will start on Monday, September 14.
Erin Kelly, director of education, said the plan was put together per provincial guidelines, with the priority being the health and safety of all members of the GECDSB community.
"The goal in reopening is to minimize risk and increase safety for everyone while continuing to offer the learning and educational resources that our families demand, and our students deserve," said Kelly. "We all have responsibilities to promote everyone's health and safety during these uncertain times. The guidelines have been developed from a variety of trusted sources."
The plan is in line with the one laid out last week by the local English Catholic board. Elementary school students will be in class full-time, five days a week, including recess and lunch periods. Students in Grades 4 through 8 must wear masks or face coverings. Those in kindergarten through grade three are recommended to wear masks.
For secondary school students, there will be a combination of in-person and online learning. This is designed to reduce the number of contacts between students. All high school students will be required to wear a face covering.
For students with special needs, schools will work with the students' special education coordinator and parents to establish an individualized return-to-class plan. At the secondary level, students in STEPS programming will attend five days a week, while those in MAPS programming will follow the adapted model.
All school buildings will be frequently and aggressively cleaned and disinfected, with personal protective equipment made available.
Parents will also have the option to keep their kids home with an online learning program if they are not comfortable sending them to school. To that end, parents are being asked to complete an online attendance survey to state what they wish to do. The survey will be sent to parents via email and the board is urging parents to state their choice by Monday, August 17.
To see the complete return-to-school plan, which will be formally presented at the GECDSB board's next meeting Tuesday, visit the board's official website.