CBE releases update for students as in-school classes resume Monday

A day after Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced that students will return to in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 10, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) released information about health measures that will be in place at schools prior to the return of in-person learning.

The CBE announced via its website that while in-person classes are set to return monday, schools will be prepared for a potential to at-home learning if required.

"The decision to transition individual classes or grades to at-home learning will be based on staff availability and/or student absentee rates. All moves to at-home learning for entire schools or school authorities require approval or direction from the Minister of Education," the open letter to parents stated.

The entire letter can be found here.

"Decisions to move individual classes or multiple classes within a school will be decided by CBE Administration," the letter added.

Around the issue of school buses, the letter asks parents to be prepared for any situation, " Yellow school bus service may also be impacted by last-minute staffing challenges due to illness. Buses may be delayed or unable to run for the day due to driver availability. If your child’s bus is delayed, please check the CBE transportation website for more information. Families should also have back-up plans in place if school bus transportation is unavailable."

Also in the letter is a request that all children who feel sick or are unwell to stay at home, "Now, more than ever, it is important that anyone feeling unwell must stay at home. Students and staff must use the daily checklist to identify if they should attend or stay home."

The letter is penned by Christopher Usih the Chief Superintendent of Schools for the CBE.

Laura Hack the School Board Trustee for Ward 3 and 4 wrote on social media a message from all the school board trustees, "The safety, physical and mental health of our students and staff continues to be our priority. We acknowledge the stress and uncertainty that students, families and staff are facing.

"We are so grateful for the tireless commitment of our staff to continuing to deliver a quality education experience to all students throughout this pandemic. It will be important that we work together to keep schools and workplaces as safe and healthy as possible," Usih stated in the letter."