The Ontario Greens'

Safe School Plan

Because kids deserve to be in class.

We Need Safe Schools

Students in Ontario have spent 26 weeks in online school — that’s more than anywhere else in the country.

This has impacted students’ mental health and overall well-being. Parents and experts have spoken and the science is clear. Schools should be the last to close and the first to open.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Ford government has delayed making the necessary investments needed to make schools safe. This needs to change right now.

Ontario Greens Safe School Plan

Better air quality

Improving ventilation, including HEPA filters, in all Ontario classrooms

Lower class sizes

Reducing class sizes to 15 students to allow for appropriate physical distancings

Vaccination for eligible students

Ensuring as many students as possible over age 12 are fully immunized (double vaccinated for at least two weeks) by the first day of school

Sharing information on vaccinations

We need a province-wide database to show how many educators, staff and eligible students are fully vaccinated.

Better protection for teachers, students and staff

Investing in more and higher quality PPE, including N95 masks to keep education staff and students safe

More testing and tracing

A robust, accessible and low-barrier testing and tracing system to control and mitigate COVID outbreaks

Mandating vaccines for education workers

A plan to proactively ensure teachers and education staff are fully immunized to protect children, especially those under the age of 12 who are currently ineligible to receive vaccines

Prioritizing Mental Health

The pandemic and challenges of online school has taken a major toll on kids’ mental health. Everything is not ok. Kids need and deserve more help and support.

We need to make make students’ mental health and well-being a priority as they head back to school by:

1. End Hybrid Learning

Committing to ending plans for hybrid learning and quadmesters that have negative impacts on student mental health and quality of learning

2. Support Mental Health

Ensuring a sufficient number of mental health professionals are available at every school

3. Feed Our Kids

Implementing a province-wide school lunch program to address issues of food insecurity, household economic instability and eating disorders which have been exacerbated by the pandemic

We can’t keep putting the burden of schooling on parents.

It’s time for the Ontario government to do better.

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Safe Schools Are Our Priority

Learn more about what Ontario Greens are doing to push for safer schools in Ontario