The head of the Greater Essex chapter of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is scratching his head about last week's announcement the province is relaxing isolation rules for those who test positive for COVID-19.
Mario Spagnuolo, who represents teachers at the Greater Essex County District School Board, has taken several calls from teachers and parents worried about the changes.
"It's going to provide confusion about what parents have to do and what educators have to do if they do contract COVID," said Spagnuolo. "The other issue is, is it making our staff and students more vulnerable, and I would argue, yes, it is."
Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health announced last week that the province was no longer mandating those who test positive to isolate for five days. Doctor Kieran Moore recommends people stay home for at least 24 hours after their symptoms subside and wear a mask for ten days after they feel better. However, the rule is no longer mandatory.
Spagnuolo said the timing is unfortunate.
"The five-day rule -- I think people were just starting to understand it, follow it -- and the minute that was happening, it was changing, and right before the first day of school," he said.
If Moore made the change to avoid staffing shortages in Ontario schools, Spagnuolo thinks it might work in the short term, but it could backfire in the longer term.
"Once the infection rate increases and more and more people get sick, I think it might have a more negative impact," he said. "Time will tell."
Meanwhile, the Ontario government continues collective bargaining with teachers' unions. Spagnuolo wanted parents to know teachers are eager to make this school year work smoothly.
"Extra-curriculars are a-go even though the government is trying to scare parents into thinking that they're not," he said.
"I think you have the government trying to create a crisis and chaos where there is none," said Spagnuolo on progress at the bargaining table. "For the education minister in the middle of August to start getting people excited about a potential strike is disingenuous. I think we need to leave the bargaining to the bargaining table. Let the process unfold."
As for whether parents should be concerned about a possible strike, Spagnuolo said teachers haven't even taken a strike vote yet, and there has been no mention of a strike in meetings with the membership.