Despite efforts to increase inventory, Danko says the board may have to assign 'one device per family to start and see where we are for numbers.'

"It is long overdue that the concerns that have been raised by Black students and Black parents and students broadly in Ontario to have this responded to in a systemic way."

Trustees say the model could elevate the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

"In order to maximize instruction time for students, school boards and school authorities are encouraged to start their school year by Sept. 1."

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has identified addressing classroom violence as a key concern as its members pursue rotating strikes at school boards across the province.

The integrity commissioner's office received a formal complaint in October about Trustee Will Davies, who referred to McCrimmon Middle School in Brampton as "McCriminal."

"I have sent in two reviewers at the request of the board to investigate these matters seriously, in an expedited time frame," Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said. "I want to see these proposals in my hands in the coming weeks."

The parents are part of a network of advocacy groups fighting to stop cuts to public education and include Ontario Families for Public Education, Scarborough Families for Public Education, West End Parents for Public Education and several others.

Indigenous courses will not be a mandatory part of the high school curriculum in Ontario – a decision that has angered First Nations members.

Since before last year's Ontario election, Doug Ford has been speaking out about Ontario students' math scores, which he said are declining.