Protesters rally at Newmarket-Aurora MPP's office urging province to fund schools properly or keep them closed

Ford government announcing on July 30 its plans for reopening schools in
September

Yorkregion.com
July 31, 2020

A day before the province outlined its plans for schools in September, a dozen protesters rallying outside Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott’s office demanded the government not do it on a shoestring budget.

Queen’s Park should provide enough funding to reopen classrooms safely or keep schools closed, the protesters said at the July 29 noon rally outside the Newmarket constituency office of Elliott, who is also deputy premier.

They want adequate funding for smaller class sizes, repurposing spaces, more janitorial and education staff and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Bradford father Stephen Bloom, whose daughters Camryn and Maya attend W.H. Day Elementary School, is “anxious” about rushing to reopen classrooms without proper safeguards in place.

“We understand it’s expensive but this is a once in a century pandemic and it requires a once in a century response,” he said.

“If that means extra money, so be it. Safety first. If anyone gets sick, they don’t know about long-term effects.”

Holding up a sign at the protest, Camryn hopes she can go into Grade 3 in September full-time and safely.

The provincial government is announcing July 30 its plans for reopening schools in September.

Elliott wasn’t at her office during the protest, one of many held across the province, but later said in an email that the safety of students, staff and their families is the government’s top priority.

“As we have indicated, our goal is to have students in class five days a week but it must be safe to do so. That is why we continue to work closely with the best medical and scientific leaders in Canada to implement health protocols and resources that keep our schools safe,” she said.

“We will be announcing further supports for our boards, on top of record increases to mental health, special education, technology, and cleaning investments, to ensure they have the resources needed to succeed in the fall.”

The government is providing more than $25.5 billion to school boards this year, an increase of $736 million, and investing more than $212 million for boards to hire additional teachers and support staff, Elliott said.

“We will do what it takes to give parents the confidence that their kids will be safe in September,” she said.

But Jon Aston, president of the Newmarket-Aurora NDP riding association, co-founder of the Common Ground Coalition and acting at the protest as the spokesperson for Ontario Families for Public Education, is disappointed with the level of government funding.

“The COVID-related school funding they’ve offered at seven cents per student is barely enough to buy two disinfectant wipes per student per day,” he said.

“We already know the Ford government doesn’t have a high regard for public education, it’s been under attack for years thanks to his government. His disdain for education workers and their unions is patently evident. But now, he and (Education Minister) Stephen Lecce are about to put the lives of workers, students and their families in grave danger. We need much more than they’re offering and what they have put on the table.”