Trustees and Principals Speak OutTrustees in various boards have been speaking out and are rejecting being placed in a situation of administering an unsafe plan. They are trying within their roles to speak out at board meetings; however they note that their role is strictly to approve budgets and that operational matters are directed by the Ministry. In spite of this they have been passing motions to call on the government to change direction and properly fund class size reductions and other measures necessary for a safe return to school. The Ontario Principals' Council has also gone on the record calling for lower class sizes to ensure physical distancing in elementary schools, as well as a delayed or staggered start to the new year to ensure schools can slowly reopen, and expedited testing for potential COVID-19 cases.[1] Besides "allowing" school boards to dip into their own reserves to lower class sizes, the government has thus far only said that it will permit schools to stagger students' return to school over up to two weeks and says it has a plan for rapid testing of high school students. However this does not mean that school boards are being allowed to delay the start of school to implement new plans. Some boards requested a delay and this was rejected. Instead, it appears that the government is allowing boards to delay face-to-face start-up but requires that online learning begin on September 8. Note1. Ontario Principals' Council Statement on Reopening Schools
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