HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter to the Minister and Chief Medical Officer of Health March 2022 (1) (5)
Office of the Chair of the Board
15 March 2022
The Honourable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
438 University Ave, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1N3
Dr. Kieran Moore
Chief Medical Officer of Health
Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health
Box 12,
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1N3
Dear Minister Lecce and Dr. Moore:
At a special meeting of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board on 14 March 2022, after
considering the possibility of a local mask mandate, the Board directed me to write to you with
regard to the changed directives regarding masking, physical distancing and cohorting in
schools that will come into effect on 21 March 2022, immediately following March Break.
First, the OCDSB would appreciate timely additional direction regarding masking to protect
medically fragile staff and students, especially children in congregate settings. In recent days
we have heard significant concerns from families about the need to continue to protect those
in our schools who are immunocompromised or otherwise at higher risk of severe effects
should they contract COVID-19.
Second, we note that the change in directives simultaneously removes three of the important
layers of protection for our students and staff that have proven very effective at mitigating the
risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. It would therefore be helpful to have additional
time and flexibility to proceed stepwise over a two-to-four-week period as we implement the
changes, to support improved monitoring, any retraining needs, and improved
communications and reassurance for OCDSB families and staff.
The OCDSB will also be requesting expert opinion and advice from Ottawa Public Health with
respect to the projected student health impacts to be expected with an immediate versus a
graduated approach to implementing the new Ministry of Education guidelines.
We would appreciate your written public response by Thursday, 17 March 2022.
.
Sincerely,
Lynn Scott
Chair, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
cc: Nancy Naylor, Deputy Minister of Education
Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
Cathy Abraham, President, OPSBA
W.R. (Rusty) Hick, Executive Director, OPSBA
T.J Goertz, Senior Communication and Policy Officer
OPSBA and Member Boards
Trustees, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Senior Staff, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Corporate Records
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