These 9 Ontario school boards will resume in-person learning Feb. 1

Plan includes schools in Eastern Ontario, Middlesex-London, Southwestern, Ottawa PHUs

Toronto.com
Jan. 29, 2021

All schools in nine Ontario boards will be reopening to in-person learning next week. - Pexels photo

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce has announced that nine more school boards in Ontario will be resuming in-person learning on Feb. 1 -- nine days ahead of the province's original plan.

While Northern Ontario schools reopened to in-person instruction earlier this month, the Ford government had said previously that students in southern Ontario would remain in virtual classrooms until Feb. 10 at the earliest.

Lecce released a memo Jan. 28 stating that the government's latest decision was based on the "advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, with the support of the local Medical Officers of Health."

All elementary and secondary schools in the following boards will be reopening Monday, affecting a total of about 280,000 students, Lecce said.

• Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario

• Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario

• Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l'Est ontarien

• Conseil scolaire de district catholique du Centre-Est de l'Ontario

• London District Catholic School Board

• Ottawa Catholic District School Board

• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

• Thames Valley District School Board

• Upper Canada District School Board

As well, certain schools in Conseil scolaire catholique Providence and Conseil scolaire Viamonde that are part of the Eastern Ontario Health, Middlesex-London Health, Southwestern Public Health or Ottawa Public Health units, will also reopen Feb. 1.

Before and after school programs will resume in these boards as of Monday, and emergency child care will end tomorrow.

Despite the announcement, parents with children in these school boards can choose to continue with virtual learning. As well, local public health units still have the authority to close schools, under certain circumstances.

"The government agrees with the growing consensus in the medical community that returning students to in-person learning is essential to the well-being, development and mental health of children," Lecce said in his announcement. "According to leading medical and scientific experts, including Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, our province's schools are safe places for learning."

The remainder of the school boards in the province will continue with virtual learning until further notice.