Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Vol. 43, No. 27
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HAPPY CANADA DAY
BRSD deals with school re-entry in fall Patricia Harcourt Editor
School divisions across the province, including Battle River School Division, are wrapping up their 2019-20 school years while waiting for a decision from Alberta Education on what will happen next fall. They will know by August 1 which of three possible scenarios will be chosen as students return in September. Education Minister Adriana LaGrange stated a month ago that the goal is to achieve a “nearly normal” school routine for the upcoming year. But there is also the possibility depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic that students could be combining classes at school with online work at home, or once again going completely online for their schooling. At the final meeting of the BRSD board for this year on June 11, Superintendent Rita Marler outlined how staff are getting ready for whichever scenario is chosen for September. “Near normal” will still mean extra cleaning procedures and inter-action in smaller groups than what took place before the COVID19 restrictions were put in place in March. The school division promised to share more details of how the schools will operate come September once the decision is made on August 1 about the format that will be put in place. BRSD conducted a survey on reentry that received a large response of 2,300 parents, 1,200 plus students and 500 staff. Results of the survey will be used in the planning process for next year.
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“Parents expressed concern about their children being able to move ahead with learning, and also about the social and emotional wellbeing of their children,” stated Diane Hutchinson, Director of Communications for BRSD, in her report on the trustee meeting. “Students, too, were concerned about the impact of being away from friends and school routines,” Hutchinson stated. “Staff felt they were in a position to support students whatever the reality is next fall, but also expressed concern about ensuring everyone’s health and safety in a school environment.” She added: “Addressing these concerns will be part of the school division’s re-entry plan. “There will be time dedicated to understanding and supporting where students are at in their learn-
ing as well as supporting their physical, social and emotional wellness.” Meanwhile, the school division will be reviewing its transportation routes with a decision made to reduce the routes in two areas. A decision on whether to allow students to embark on international travel trips next spring will be made in the fall based on the COVID-19 situation at that time. International students will once again be welcome as long as they are allowed to travel across borders and then self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. BRSD staff may also travel to other countries to recruit these students. BRSD states that international students bring revenue into the school division and increase diversity at the schools. BRSD has closed down the ele-
mentary school at Holden and will be moving these students to an enlarged elementary school (K-9) at Ryley School next fall. The high school at Ryley closed down for good at the end of June. Grade 10-12 students from Holden and Ryley are being offered class space in Viking and Tofield. The board decided to keep the Round Hill School open and offer an Agricultural Program there. However, the school board reports that there was no progress on that front due to complications from the other school shut downs and uncertainty about the decisions that are coming down for schools in the fall. The school board plans to hold its organizational meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27 when a chair and vice-chair will be elected from within the trustees attending.