Ford must get moving on ventilation in schools immediately

June 28, 2021

TORONTO — Mike Schreiner released the following statement on schools:

“Ford must immediately get moving on improving ventilation if we want our schools to be safe come September.

Public health experts are clear that improving ventilation is a key measure to make schools safer, in addition to lowering class sizes to 15, investing in more and higher quality PPE, robust rapid testing, and ensuring all eligible educators, students and staff are fully vaccinated.

Yet only one of the 76 school boards across the province has HEPA filters in every classroom.

Other jurisdictions seem to have it figured out. Every classroom in New York, for example, will have two HEPA filters when classes resume. And they’re publicly releasing and updating schools’ ventilation status through an online site.

It’s the last few days of school for many across the province, and back to school is just two months away.

Kids in Ontario have spent more time out of the classroom since the pandemic began than students in any other province.

And it’s having a huge toll on their mental health and well-being.

Ford needs to urgently make safe schools a priority and immediately start moving on ventilation so kids can get back in the classroom come September.”

-30-