Reopening schools must prioritize health and well-being of students and staff

MONTREAL, April 20, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The English Parents' Committee Association (EPCA) is reassuring the parent community that the health and well-being of students and employees are at the forefront of any discussion about reopening Quebec schools.

Following weeks of uncertainty about the fate of the current school year, parents have questions and concerns about scenarios that could see children return to classes in the coming weeks or months.

"In recent days, there have been more substantive discussions with our partners and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEES) about reopening schools," said EPCA President Katherine Korakakis.

EPCA has participated in all deliberations as the official voice of parent governance during this unprecedented crisis, and EPCA's position is clear: "We will only support a plan to reopen schools once we are assured that all public health authority advisories, recommendations and rules are sufficiently defined, explained and fully respected. Simply put, the health and well-being of students, employees and all educational partners is the primary concern when making any decision on reopening schools."

Along with the diversity of opinions among educators and the community-at-large, parents hailing from different Quebec regions with varied concerns and preoccupations for their children's individual and collective educational needs will be heard. EPCA will participate in all deliberations and formulating any plan as part of the Comité MEES - Partenaires with feedback from the community province-wide and Directors from the various school board committees.

EPCA will work closely with its educational and community partners, and its Francophone counterpart, the Fédération des comités de parents du Québec (FCPQ), to ensure that any return-to-school project is developed and implemented with transparency, consideration and in a responsible fashion.

About EPCA
The English Parents' Committee Association represents eight Quebec English-language school boards. With a team of Directors chosen by member Parent Committees, it is the official voice of Quebec's English public school parent community, representing almost 100,000 students. Speaking with one voice for parents and their children, EPCA represents parent interests in all dealings with the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur (MEES) and across all levels of government. By providing the tools and information parents need to serve and represent their communities, EPCA is a singular reference point for English parent governance.

SOURCE English Parents Committee Association (EPCA)

Katherine Korakakis - President, Cell: [phone], [email protected]