This update is a summary of the special public meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held January 3, 2022, livestreamed (the recorded version will be available within 24 hours). It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next regular meeting later this month.
Land acknowledgement
Mike Brant, Trustee, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, recited the land acknowledgement: Let us bring our minds and hearts together as one to honour and celebrate these traditional lands as a gathering place of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinabek and Haudenosaunee people. It is with deep humility that we acknowledge and offer our gratitude for their contributions to our community, having respect for all as we come together and walk side by side into the future to support our students of today.
Information
Update to the return to learning, January 2022
Highlights of this report from Director of Education Katherine MacIver included the following:
- On January 3, 2022, the Premier of Ontario announced a move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17, subject to public health trends and operational considerations.
- HPEDSB remains committed to safe and rigorous learning and the ongoing health, safety and well-being of students and staff.
- Device distribution and contact with families will occur over the next few days with classrooms engaging in synchronous (real-time, two-way) remote learning by Thursday, January 6, 2022.
- Special education self-contained classrooms, including resource/regional programs, will offer in-person learning once outreach and confirmation with families is complete.
- Childcare programs will have access to schools to operate emergency childcare programs with access to extended hours and space, where necessary.
- When in HPEDSB buildings, staff will have the option of wearing a non-fit-tested N95 mask, or continue to use the provided medical masks.
- 3-layer cloth masks have been ordered for students and will be provided free of charge.
- Facilitation of education staff access to booster vaccinations is ongoing. An application was submitted to offer an employer booster clinic however it has yet to be approved.
- Public Health remains available to our school administrators for consultation, however will no longer provide contact tracing and notification of positive COVID-19 cases.
- Administrators will fulfill legislative reporting responsibilities as required or as directed by the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health (e.g., reporting any communicable disease to the local Medical Officer of Health).
- An additional 30 HEPA units (in addition to the 381 already in schools) will be received by HPEDSB to be distributed according to facility priorities through our schools.
- More rapid antigen tests are being procured by the government and will be shipped to schools in late January/early February.
- A limited number of PCR tests are available at schools for symptomatic students or staff to take-home and use.
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications and Privacy Manager, 613-966-1170, extension 62354, or 613-847-0696, or [email protected]