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The two unions issued a statement that says while teachers and support workers are “committed to providing a quality education” for special needs students, “the safety and well-being of the community, including the workers within our education system, cannot be ignored.”
“The decision by the school board was hasty and unnecessary,” the statement said. “As a result, any outbreak that occurs in schools next week will fall squarely onto the shoulders of (school board) leadership.”
Roughly 60 teachers, 90 support staff, plus 300 elementary and secondary students who are part of the special needs program under the Greater Essex County District School Board are scheduled to return Monday.
The remainder of public school elementary students — who have not opted out for remote learning — are expected back in class the following Monday (Jan. 11), while secondary school students are slated to return Jan. 25.
Mario Spagnuolo, head of the board’s elementary teachers union, on Saturday noted how special needs students are being too quickly being rushed back into classrooms, given how virus numbers locally are soaring and now a new virus strain is moving across the globe with nobody “knowing the effects on young children.”
“We need to be proactive and work together effectively on safety protocols moving forward,” he said.
Concerns about health safety involving special needs students and staff are especially heightened given the close proximity they must work together, plus that many of the children are unable to wear a mask.
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