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Want out of virtual learning? Rainbow will consider it in August

Parents were asked to make a commitment back in March to virtual learning for the entire 2022-23 school year
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Rainbow District School Board (File)

Parents who selected virtual school for their kids for the 2022-23 school year and now wish to switch to in-person learning in September will have their cases assessed by the Rainbow District School Board on a “case-by-case basis” in August.

That’s according to Bruce Bourget, the board’s director of education.

He was responding to a question on the matter from trustee Anita Gibson at the June 29 Rainbow board meeting.

Parents were only given a little over a week between late February and early March to answer a survey indicating if they wanted their child to attend Rainbow board virtual school in September.  They were asked to commit to virtual school for the entire 2022-23 school year.

Gibson said she’s had a couple of calls from parents who have changed their mind, saying they now want their kids to attend in-person school come the fall.

“I believe our choice was back in March, so it's been some time,” she said.

“Some of those people have changed their minds. I just wanted to clarify for anyone else out there that might be listening, what the process is, especially now the schools will be closing, so you couldn't contact your principals.

“Some people I know have already put in, they'd like to change their mind, and have been told, I believe, they'll be contacted in August. 

“So could you just explain the timelines and the process so that people just are aware of if they're looking to make a change, whether that's even possible, and how they would go about it, just for planning purposes.”

Bourget said that if there are “extenuating circumstances,” board staff will look into switching students to in-person learning in August “on a case-by-case basis.”

He said parents were asked to make a commitment to virtual learning for the 2022-2023 school year back in March because the board needed to ensure the program was appropriately staffed.

“So it has to be looked at in terms of availability, because our staffing has been carefully planned,” Bourget said. “And as you know, from our budget, lots of work has gone into that, to make sure that we're in a place where we're prepared for the school year.”

Bourget told Sudbury.com back in March that “unless there is an extraordinary circumstance,” he was hopeful parents would select in-person learning, as it’s generally better for students not only academically, but in terms of their social and emotional needs.

"We do feel strongly that classroom-based learning is the best way for students to be educated,” Bourget said.

Statistics provided by the Rainbow board show a very small percentage of students have signed up to participate in virtual learning for the 2022-23 school year.

At the elementary level, 150 students, or 1.7 per cent, will be doing virtual school, while at the secondary level, that’s 101 students, or 2.2 per cent. The board’s predicted enrolment overall for 2022-23 is 13,442 students.


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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