Hamilton School Board Calls For More Technology And Masks From The Province To Help In-Person Learning – Hamilton | The Canadian News

With the two Hamilton public school boards moving to an online model this week by order of the province, the president of one of the entities is asking for more help.

in a letter to Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) President Dawn Danko called for more funding for technology, high-quality masks, and priority access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“We believe that for the public education system, the success of students must be a priority and the well-being of students, education workers and families must be paramount,” wrote Danko.

The president specifically asked for cash to buy more learning devices, citing a local survey that found 8,000 students need technology, reducing the 2,000 pieces of the HWDSB.

“The trustees are requesting additional funding for technology as the need for individual devices has grown beyond our current inventory,” said Danko.

There are more masks on the list as well, as the president revealed that the inventory of the three-layer cloth masks delivered as part of the province’s reopening was limited.

He urged the Ford government to get ahead of education workers and students when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, and recommended priority access for frontline staff and students ages 12-17.

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In the note, Danko also asked the province to resume tracking school cases, stating that it is an “ethical responsibility” to keep frontline tutors and educators informed.

“We recognize that Hamilton Public Health Services staff do not have the ability to complete contact tracing, as we have in the past,” said Danko.

“However, public monitoring and reporting can be achieved through an adequate supply of take-home PCR test kits or rapid antigen test kits, voluntary self-report of test-confirmed or probable cases, and follow-up of absences.”

Board education director Manny Figueiredo told 900 CHML’s hamilton today understood why Ontario removed that component from the fight against COVID-19 in schools, saying that the effort made by school and public health personnel was not sustainable.

“People don’t realize that behind the scenes every time we have a confirmed case … there’s a case management team coming together and that team is the superintendent, the principal, and all the cohort watchlists that we require.” said Figueiredo. .

The two Hamilton public school boards implemented remote learning on Wednesday, turning around just days after the Ontario government issued several new COVID-19 public health measures, including moving schools online.

All Ontario public and private schools are in remote learning until at least January 17, subject to public health trends.

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