Ontario schools will stay closed until at least May 31

Ontario's publicly funded schools will remain closed until at least May 31 as part of the government's ongoing "prudent approach" to contain the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Stephen Lecce says.

The latest extension - which public health officials advised - will give the province "sufficient time to review the data and the modelling, so we make the best decision based on the best medical advice," Lecce said at Queen's Park Sunday.

"We're going to ensure that safety remains our paramount priority."

The month-long extension of the shutdown period will allow the government more time to work with Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, and the COVID-19 command table, "to make sure we get this right, to make sure that ultimately students and staff, when they return, can do so with absolute confidence it is safe."

The province has not yet pulled the plug on the remainder of the school year, nor seen a need to extend it, because virtual learning continues and summer educational programming is being "beefed up." However, Lecce didn't rule out an outright cancellation.

Schools have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting two million students, since March 23, the first day after spring break. While Lecce acknowledged the "frustration" many feel about schools remaining closed, he urged students, parents and educators to stay the course.

"Clearly we've made some gains as a province because of the collective adherence to social distancing, because families have stayed home and governments of all levels have worked together to really stem the tide ... (of) people who would have died as a consequence of COVID."

Lecce added students expecting to finish high school this year will do so because "we have removed the impediments to graduation," by augmenting the remaining lessons with online studies. "Bottom line: Students can apply to post-secondary, they will get a final mark, they will get a completed, fulsome report card."

To "optimize" learning when students return to the classroom, the government will replace professional activity (PA) days and exams with instructional time. There are seven PA days remaining for high schools and two in elementary schools, he said.

At the end of March, the government extended the initial shutdown period to until at least May 4.

The latest extension caught no one by surprise.

"While not unexpected, I know this extension of the closure will be challenging news for many," John Malloy, Toronto District School Board's director of education, wrote to parents and guardians. The TDSB continues to deliver tablets like iPads to families who requested them, the letter says.

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, said his members - more than 60,000 members, two thirds of them English public high school teachers - will continue their "absolute best to provide continuity and stability for students" during this time.

Nevertheless, there are some students that "we just can't reach through this distance learning and we need to be thinking very carefully how we mitigate the gaps that arise ... once we have students back in a face-to-face situation." For example, some students at home during the pandemic are busy "taking care of younger siblings while their parents are working in some sort of essential service."

Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, said much good work has been done to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on learning.

"I am also extremely proud of the efforts of school boards to help keep school communities connected and engaged," Abraham said in a written statement.

"They are ensuring access to technology and the internet wherever possible, sourcing and donating PPE to the health sector, and working with their mental health support staff to support students and their families, among so many other initiatives."

For now, private schools, First Nation schools, licensed child-care centres and EarlyON programs will remain closed until May 6, with certain exceptions for licensed care. The shutdown of those facilities could also be extended if cabinet renews the current provincial emergency order, Lecce said.

Betsy Powell is a Toronto-based reporter. Follow her on Twitter: @powellbetsy