One local English Catholic board is asking the public for ideas on how to proceed with resuming classes this fall.
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board is conducting an online survey to get an idea from parents on what they would like to happen when students return to the classroom in September.
The Ontario Ministry of Education has directed all publicly-funded school boards in the province to draw up plans in response to three possible scenarios. One is a full return to in-school instruction. The second is a hybrid of in-person and online learning based on smaller class sizes and possible alternating of days or weeks, and the third is entirely online instruction, which had been the norm since pandemic guidelines went into place in mid-March.
Premier Doug Ford has indicated a best-case scenario as having students return to school full-time, but the WECDSB is seeking input since some parents may be hesitant about that plan.
"We have developed this survey in order to get a sense of how many people intend to send their children to school, and what types of models they would prefer if we are not able to return to a normal full-day schedule," read the survey notice posted on the board's official website.
The survey has six questions, and considers what types of education models parents would like to see should it become necessary to limit students to 15 per classroom with alternating days.
You can take the survey online through July 31.
The Ministry of Education has asked public boards to submit their plans for each of the three possible scenarios no later than August 4, to ensure that boards have ample time to prepare for the scheduled start of fall classes on Tuesday, September 8.
Meanwhile, at the Greater Essex County District School Board, administrators are working on creating its plan for fall. Director of Education Erin Kelly said the main focus is the health and safety of students, staff, and teachers.
"The decision to send a child to school in the fall will remain with parents or guardians, with a guarantee of access to and equity of education. We will work with families, staff, community partners as well as ministry officials to determine what our classrooms, timetables and instruction will look like next year," said Kelly in a statement posted on the public board's website. "There will be many alternatives considered, but regardless of the final arrangements, flexibility and understanding will be required by everyone."
A total of 15,000 respondents took part in that survey.
