TVDSB closing all buildings, including daycares, in wake of COVID-19

The Thames Valley District School Board will close its buildings to the public from March 14 through to April 5 in response to the coronavirus outbreak, a move that will force the closure of child care centres and March Breaks camps that use those facilities.

A complete list of the TVDSBfacility closures is here:

• Closed: All child care centres in TVDSB schools, including March Break camps.
• Closed: Alternative, adult and continuing education.
• Closed: All EarlyONchild and family centres and London family centres.
• Cancelled: All Community use of facility permits, including the weekend of March 14 and 15 and the evening of March 14.
• Cancelled: All international field trips are cancelled for the remainder of the school year, and out of province trips are cancelled until the end of April.
• Cancelled: Dual credit programs and all co-op placements.
• Cancelled: All athletic and artistic competitions and practices are cancelled until April 5.

The announcement follows the Ontario government's move to close schools for 14 days after the end of the March Break.

During this period, TVDSBsays it will be operating with minimal essential operational staff only, such as senior administration, communications, human resources, maintenance and custodial, accounting and payroll.

The board also saysif students or staff are travelling outside of the province during March Break, they are expected to follow local health unit, provincial and federal guidelines before returning to childcare, schools and TVDSB workplaces.

TVDSB associate Jeff Pratt said board administrators understand the inconvenience the move will cause, but said it's necessary to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

"We are certainly empathetic and appreciate what this means for parents and families in terms of child care but the health and well-being of our staff is our number one priority."

Pratt said essential boardstaff, including payroll and custodial staff will continue to work during the closure but teachers will not be in schools.

"During the week of March break all custodial staff will be in the buildings and this will give them an opportunity to do some deeper cleaning, and a more thorough cleaning than they normally do on a daily basis to make ensure the facilitiesare as clean as possible to welcome students back whenever schools open."