Georges River Council was set this week to congratulate the NSW Government on its plan to get students to return to school.
But some councillors felt that congratulations were not in order.
Instead, the called for the council to 'note' rather than 'congratulate' the government on its return to school plans.
Schools will begin their staggered return to face-to-face learning on Monday, 18 October, one week earlier than initially planned.
In a Notice of Motion submitted at last Monday's Council meeting, Councillor Nancy Liu called for the council to congratulate the NSW Government on its plan to get students back to the classroom and asked for the government's assurance that the return to school plan would be safe for children, teachers and families.
But Councillor Vince Badalati was against congratulating the government.
"I'm happy to congratulate all the parents who have been involved in home schooling, I'm happy to congratulate all the teachers on the wonderful job that they have been doing during the pandemic," Cr Badalait said.
"I cannot congratulate the NSW Government. To me it was the lax rules around the pandemic, especially in regards to the Delta strain.
"It's believed that it started from international air crew who passed it on to a driver who was not vaccinated and had an exemption form wearing a mask. For two to three weeks the NSW Government would not go into lockdown and by that stage it was too late.
"That has cost so many children the opportunity to attend school, especially Year 12 kids.
"So I cannot for the life of me congratulate the NSW Government because I believe that they have been responsible for a lot of the problems that our community has faced."
Cr Kathryn Landsberry supported Cr Badalati's comments and called for an amendment of the Notice of Motion.
"I ask we consider amending the words slightly so the council notes rather than congratulates them because it has been a bit all over the shop," she said.
"The Premier did announce a couple of months ago that Year 12 was going back and then had to completely backtrack on that as Delta really took-off.
"My daughter is a teacher and I know the struggles she had been through with the misinformation and the fact there was no direct offer for teachers to get vaccinated along with other emergency workers.
"I think many people would have the same view. There is not much to congratulate the government on in this pandemic and certainly school plans is not one of them."
Cr Liu accepted the amendment to change the wording from congratulate to note.
