The president of the Lambton Kent Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) believes schools are not safe for in-person learning at the moment.
Laurel Liddicoat-Newton said the union is in favour of keeping schools closed until the necessary changes are made to improve safety.
"We've been talking about this non-stop: class sizes needed to be reduced, proper ventilation and air-conditioning, and now we're into our summer months and it's going to be very hot in schools, and that needed to happen," she said.
On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford announced that schools in Ontario will remain closed for the rest of the school year.
Liddicoat-Newton said Ford has consistently ignored recommendations from stakeholders, including the province's own science table, for smaller class sizes, improved ventilation and adequate PPE for educators.
She believes the risks of reopening schools right now outweigh the harms of keeping schools closed.
"[Ford's decision comes] despite consensus from healthcare stakeholders that students needed to return to in-person learning. So this could all have been prevented by proper investment in public education."
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade believes the Sarnia-Lambton region was prepared to reopen schools for in-person learning.
"I think if they had told us they were going to open up our schools, from a public health perspective, we would have said 'okay'." said Dr. Ranade. "The school boards were actually saying to us that they were ready on reasonably short notice to open up again. So in terms of preparedness, we were prepared and in terms of levels of cases we were definitely prepared, as long as lots of other things weren't opening up at the same time."
Dr. Ranade believes health units connected to local school boards would have generally been supportive of schools reopening.
Premier Ford also announced Wednesday that he will be working with all school boards and local health organizations to plan outdoor graduation ceremonies for all grades. Liddicoat-Newton was not pleased with this announcement.
"That was an utter shock to us. First he started with 'here are the hard facts, we failed to keep schools safe and prevent spread, so you're at home now for the rest of the year,' and then boom, it's like he throws in a cookie to appease parents who want closure for their families," she said. "To throw this nugget out to the public and the parents, like 'oh, now you'll have a graduation, moving onto a different class,' it just seems so fake and dangerous."
Liddicoat-Newton said it would make more sense to have a transition to the next grade ceremony online during the school day.
"Right now, hosting outdoor graduation ceremonies is very unrealistic for all students in a school."
The Ontario Principals' Council is also objecting to the ceremonies, saying "it is unrealistic and disrespectful to all Ontario educators to expect such a considerable shift in planning at this point in the school year."
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey liked the idea of hosting outdoor graduations for all grades.
"I think it would be an opportunity to be able to do the distancing safely and give them an opportunity to get back and see their school friends, because I think that's as important as anything."
Bailey also expressed his support for those upset with the continued school closures.
"I hear from parents everyday, grandparents, and I certainly understand their predicament and I certainly empathize with them. But we need to get through this, and I encourage everyone who hasn't gotten their first vaccine to get out there and get it."
-With files from Josh Boyce and Natalia Vega