Education minister slams WRDSB eclipse reversal
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the Waterloo Region District School Board’s abrupt decision to close schools Monday during the solar eclipse is “entirely unacceptable.”
In a reversal of its earlier position, the board announced Wednesday that Monday would be an asynchronous learning day – giving parents just five days notice to find child-care.
“It is entirely unacceptable for school boards to drop this on parents only days ahead of time,” Lecce said in a statement to CTV News Friday.
Lecce said he had told boards across the province that children should be in school on Monday.
“It is not only indefensible to send kids home just days ahead of time, but it is insult to injury to do so without ensuring live access to their educator,” he said. “The board ought to reconsider this decision.”
In an email to CTV News, the school board confirmed it was aware of Lecce’s position but had not provided an additional comment as of publication.
Sudden reversal
Staring at the sun, including during an eclipse, can lead to serious eye damage.
In southern Ontario, the phenomenon will be at its peak around 3:18 p.m. – around the time students are being let out of class.
In response, earlier this year, numerous school boards across province moved their previously scheduled PD days so students would not be in class on April 8.
But in March, WRDSB announced it would not be following suit. In a statement at the time, it said students would take part in “once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunities during the total solar eclipse, with appropriate safety measures.”
Speaking Wednesday, Director of Education jeewan chanicka told CTV News they took numerous factors into consideration when making that decision, including safety, learning and access to childcare.
“We thought, you know, we could do this and make it work and make it be a really valuable experience,” chanicka said.
The board also made it clear to parents they could take their children out of class early that day if they wished.
chanicka said it was further feedback from staff and families that led the board to change plans Wednesday and announce schools would be closed.
The decision left many families scrambling.
“For that I’m deeply apologetic,” chanicka said. “That would not be something that we wanted. And like I said, it was part of our consideration for why we had the plan that we did.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
NEW Kim Kardashian brand kids' sleepwear and more: Here are some recalls to watch out for
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Maple Leafs down Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7
William Nylander scored twice and Joseph Woll made 22 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday to force Game 7 in their first-round series.
Is your password 123456? Here's why you should make it stronger
With the sheer number of passwords needed today, it may come as no surprise that over 60 per cent of Canadians feel overwhelmed, and over a third reportedly forget their passwords monthly.
Three Quebec men from same family father hundreds of children
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.
China sends a probe to get samples from the less-explored far side of the moon
China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Jurors in Trump hush money trial hear recording of pivotal call on plan to buy affair story
Jurors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump heard a recording Thursday of him discussing with his then-lawyer and personal fixer a plan to purchase the silence of a Playboy model who has said she had an affair with the former president.
OPP's mandatory alcohol screening during traffic stops 'not acceptable': CCLA
A spike in impaired driving-related collisions has caused Ontario’s provincial police to begin enforcing mandatory alcohol screening (MAS) at all traffic stops in the Greater Toronto Area -- a move one civil rights group says is ‘not acceptable.’