The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is concerned about a return to in-person learning January 17.
Lambton-Kent ETFO President Laurel Liddicoat-Newton said the union is apprehensive.
"We've had numerous calls and emails from members especially concerned about returning before everyone is boosted, and also we have huge concerns about masks for our kindergarten students."
Liddicoat-Newton said the government should expedite vaccines and boosters for all education workers and students, and that access to rapid antigen tests is essential for workers prior to any return.
She added that schools need to have smaller cohorts of students to ensure safe in-person learning can continue safely and be sustainable.
"Smaller class sizes is something that ETFO and other affiliates have been begging for for the past two-and-a-half years."
Liddicoat-Newton said the union believes the government must invest in infection prevention and tracking and monitoring in schools. She said it's a government failure to not reinstate monitoring and the reporting of COVID-19 cases.
"It's very frightening," she said. "We really wonder how will we know for sure if students and staff are infectious as school boards do not have to track, any longer, illnesses or how they're recorded."
In a media release, ETFO said the lack of direct confirmation from the province about plans to return to in-person schooling is both disheartening and troubling.
On Tuesday, the province confirmed that students would return to in-person learning on January 17, following media reports Monday night.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Christine Elliott said delaying the start of school allowed more time for staff to get their booster shots and for product shipments to come in.
"We also needed to get the rapid tests in from the federal government -- they're just starting to come in now. And we've also received millions more in masks, the N95 unfitted masks that are going into the schools for teachers, and the three-ply masks for students as well."
Elliott said with mental health needs rising rapidly, it's important to get kids back in the classroom.
"We know that it helps students to be in school for their mental and physical health, and that is why our government, and particularly minister Lecce, our minister of education, have done everything that we can to make our schools safe for students."
Elliott said there will also be PCR tests available in schools for students and staff who are symptomatic while in school.
Earlier this month, the province announced that students would move to remote learning starting January 5.
-With files from Natalia Vega
