Toronto Wants To Use Spare Rooms As Classrooms As Province Won't Cut Class Sizes

In a release on Tuesday afternoon, August 18, Mayor John Tory has announced the city's willing to give up 24 city facilities, 36 rooms in total, to be used as auxiliary classrooms for Toronto's back-to-school plan.

This is aimed at ensuring that physical distancing can be maintained when students return to school in a few weeks, after the province of Ontario rejected a call to reduce class sizes.

Just last week, in the lastest amendment to the back-to-school plan, Education Minister Stephen Lecce admitted that he would support school boards and districts if they choose to implement staggered start dates.

The province's framework has garnered plenty of criticism, especially from Ontarians who are sending children back to school come September. 

A petition arguing for smaller class sizes, which would make distancing more feasible, has raised 229,000 signatures already. However, the province rejected pleas to cut class sizes this week, leaving Toronto scrambling to find safe space for students.