I have consistently advocated for opening as soon as it can safely be done. I have accepted the advice of the medical panel and supported the plan proposed by the Superintendent. I am pleased that we are well-positioned to provide effective meaningful virtual instruction until it is safe.

I did not support the amendment recently proposed by my colleague Jessica Owens because it would have delayed the entire school year, including all virtual instruction, by two weeks as it would have necessitated resurveying all staff and students and weeks of staff planning would have started over again based on the new numbers. The medical metrics for both the yellow and green zones need to be monitored and if they improve as we hope, we need to ensure they are actually reflecting safe conditions and adjust them and or delay opening and continue full virtual as needed to ensure the safe reopening of the buildings based on:

• Continued analysis of the selected metrics relative to other metrics and both our city and the eastern region
• Safe staffing plan has been developed
• Total logistical support in place – we now think we can but we need to know we have
• Apply lessons-learned from other school divisions that have opened their buildings – our later opening will allow us to observe and use to make changes if needed

All of this can and will be done the board-superintendent-staff team in place as we commence our virtual instruction in three weeks. We will stay virtual as long as it takes to ensure safe building opening, but as soon as it is safe based on seven-day averages and 14-day waiting periods we will be in a position to slowly move into in person, in building learning for those who need it the most expanding safely to others and eventually all next semester, again if it is safe.