INNISFAIL – With growing concerns over the ongoing impact of COVID that has created a shortage of substitute teachers, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools has directed hundreds of grades 7 to 9 students from seven area schools, including Innisfail’s St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School, to move to online learning.
In a letter sent on April 26 to all parents from impacted schools, the school board said the move is temporary and will begin April 27 and conclude May 7. The letter added in-person learning will resume May 10. The school board decision does not include students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 6.
“Please know that this decision was not made lightly and, as we continue to realize the strains that COVID-19 places on us, we need to be flexible with our decision making and place our students and their learning at the centre of all conversations,” said Kathleen Finnigan, superintendent of schools for the regional Catholic school board, in the letter to parents. “We will support your family with technology if your child requires it.”
Kelly Jacobson, the principal at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, said the move by the school board impacts about 110 local students.
“Divisionally we are having a difficult time keeping up with the substitute teacher shortage. This decision was made divisionally not on a school-by-school basis,” said Jacobson, adding his school had one positive COVID case that was confirmed just before the recent April school break.
“We had a student who tested positive for COVID and when that happens the whole class has to go home if they have been in close contact with that student. They (students) were able to quarantine for one week and then come back.”
Jacobson said that was the school’s first and only confirmed positive case of COVID since the pandemic began 14 months ago.
He said Monday afternoon (April 26) that he had not yet received reaction from parents about the board decision but added they have been "appreciative" of what the school and its board have been doing to keep students safe, as well as the ongoing communication.
“Unfortunately, in the COVID world we are constantly worried and wondering if there are going to be cases close to us,” said Jacobson. “There is a sense of unease within our school division and our parent group but very thankful of what our staff and our division is doing to keep our kids safe and what we have in place. Really, it hasn’t been negative at all.”
