Some students heading back to school in the Peel region are likely to have to deal with more than just the weather on Monday.
The Peel Region Student Transportation (STOPR), which is responsible for transporting nearly 68,000 students in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, is warning that several routes will be canceled due to a lack of bus drivers calling in sick due to the Omicron variant.
“Parents, students, and school communities should be aware that it may be necessary to temporarily cancel bus runs if we experience high rates of driver absenteeism,” read a statement issued by STOPR.
As of midday Sunday, the organization had listed at least 12 cancellations affecting 10 separate schools, all due to COVID. on your website.
“Please note that if a bus route is temporarily canceled due to COVID, it will be canceled for approximately 5-10 days.”
STOPR reminds parents and students to review the morning and afternoon transportation schedules, as students who travel to school in the morning on one bus route may travel home in the afternoon on a different route. due to last minute changes.
“Therefore, your shuttle may be canceled in the morning but still run in the afternoon or vice versa,” the statement read.
School bus delays within the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board can be found on the Toronto Student Transportation Group website here.
Students across the province have been learning remotely since the Ford government pushed back the return date for in-person learning by two weeks.
Under new guidance issued by the Ministry of Education, Ontario school principals will only be required to report COVID-19 outbreaks to Public Health Units when absentee rates among students and staff reach a threshold of 30 percent. hundred. However, the government says parents will have access to data on school outbreaks before they reach that severity.
While public health experts, parents and officials agree that learning in school is best for children, school boards, families and unions say they are bracing for a spike in absences. of staff due to the virus.
Reference-toronto.citynews.ca