School boards prepare for new school year with eased restrictions, remote learning option

With a little more than three weeks of summer vacation remaining, school boards across Ontario are releasing their return-to-learning plans while still dealing with the pandemic.

Health and safety measures and protocols to deal with COVID-19 will remain in place at schools.

Last week, the province released its health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022), which boards are using as a guide to create their own reopening plans.

The Rainbow District School Board — which covers all English public schools across Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin areas — launched its Reopening Guide during a special board meeting Tuesday night.

Rainbow District's education director, Norm Blaseg, said remote learning will still be an option, but in-person classes are important for students' mental health. 

"We know that being fully engaged in school through clubs, sports and music is an important component of the overall school experience. So we are pleased that some of the restrictions are being eased," he said.

"Once again this year, we will balance structure, schedule and stability with safety."

Blaseg said the board's guide is subject to change based on public health data on rate of infection, transmission and vaccination, management of COVID-19 in schools, and further direction from the Ministry of Education and guidance from public health.

"Experience has taught us that we need to be flexible in order to remain responsive."

Parents with students in Rainbow schools have until Aug. 16 to complete a survey, which asks whether they want children to do in-person or remote learning.

Blaseg said there will only be one opportunity to transition between remote and in person, in February 2022.

Lesleigh Dye, director of education for District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1), said her board is using a hybrid model for learning this year — of either in-person or remote learning. 

"We made the decision to go with hybrid because we had so much transition last year, because families were changing their minds as COVID was changing," she said, adding that some students had four or five teachers virtually.

Parents with students in schools in DSB1, a public board serving northeastern Ontario from Hearst to Temagami, must confirm by Aug. 18 which type of learning they want for their children throughout the entire year. There will be no transition dates.

"We would like for them to commit to the year because it's so much for the student in terms of the routine for them, but it's also easier on the classroom teachers and the class," Dye said.

First and foremost, we want our students in-person. We know that there are benefits to that.- Lesleigh Dye, director of education, District School Board Ontario North East

"First and foremost, we want our students in person. We know that there are benefits to that. But we also appreciate that some families may not be in a position to allow their children in person."

Dye said that over the past year, work has been done to improve ventilation at all DSB1 schools. Last year, filters were replaced and the school board doubled replacement rates.

Eased restrictions to help with mental health

Blaseg told school board trustees that one of the biggest priorities this year — aside from the health and safety of students and staff — is to safely reconnect, with an ongoing focus on mental health.

Other measures being continued for Rainbow schools include mandatory masks, students will still be in cohorts, everyone must do daily COVID-19 self-screening before leaving home and practise good hand hygiene while at school. The schools will also be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

The new reopening guide allows for visitors to schools, while the use of lockers and cubbies will be permitted. Play structures will be open, and clubs, activities, sports teams and extracurriculars will resume. 

Blaseg said community use of Rainbow schools or its facilities will be reviewed and phased in. 

"Rainbow students' activities will be the first priority," he said.

School boards are also waiting for further direction from the province on how to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in a school, particularly when it comes to vaccinated versus unvaccinated students.