Local school boards found out yesterday, with the rest of Ontario, they'll have to get to work on September plans that include online learning options for Simcoe County students.
Though it wasn't exactly a surprise.
“We’ve been thinking about September for a while now, but we’ve learned pretty quickly not to get ahead of the minister (of education) in our decision making,” said Kim Weishar, superintendent of education with the Catholic school board. “We only got the information yesterday so we’re still digesting.”
On Tuesday, Ontario education minister Stephen Lecce made an announcement that the province will be spending more than $2 billion in public education for the 2021-22 school year. The support includes more than $1.6 billion in resources to respond to COVID-19 and an $85.5 million commitment to support learning recovery and renewal in response to the ongoing pandemic.
As part of the announcement, Lecce said both virtual and in-person options must be available to families for the 2021-22 school year amid continued uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Representatives from both the Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board say they were sent paperwork from the Ministry of Education on Tuesday following Lecce’s announcement, and are working with staff to solidify September plans to present at school board meetings later this month.
Weishar said the minister’s announcement wouldn’t necessarily translate to a significant shift in the Catholic board’s plans.
“We have to take a closer look at the documents so we understand what all the funding pieces are looking like,” she said.
Dawn Stephens, superintendent of education with the public school board, said her board has been planning for a possible remote learning option for families for September.
“We weren’t 100 per cent sure what the minister was going to say (on Tuesday), but we had been thinking that would probably be a requirement,” said Stephens.
When it comes to virtual learning, both local public and Catholic schools are currently using the hybrid model for secondary students, and separate remote and in-person options for elementary schools.
“We aren’t looking to make any sweeping changes from the current system we have in place. It has worked for us for this year,” said Stephens.
When asked whether virtual learning options might change in the Catholic board come September, Weishar said all options are currently still on the table.
“The minister was clear yesterday that boards need to provide remote learning options for students for the year. He also said more information would be coming on what that might look like. We haven’t received that yet,” said Weishar. “We have to look at the funding pieces. We have been able to provide virtual school because additional funding (came) to support that virtual school.”
“We have to look closer at this funding to see what we can do. We also have to focus on what’s best for students,” she added.
Weishar said, ideally, they’d like to have all students back for in-person learning, as it’s proven to be what’s best for the emotional and mental health and well-being of students.
Stephens said the public board is also looking over the funding documentation released by the ministry yesterday to determine what is feasible and what the public board can expect before making any final decisions.
“We will be bringing our plans forward to the board of trustees...and rolling it out to families by the end of May. We don’t want to hold off for too much longer,” said Stephens.
The preliminary budget for 2021/22 has already been presented through the public board back in March, however now that the funding amounts are being delivered, Stephens said board staff will compare amounts and provide trustees with a revised budget for next year.
“At first glance, it does look like there is additional funding to support above our regular funding allocations,” said Stephens. “We will be looking at this release of funds and make changes where needed.”
As of Wednesday, Weishar said the Catholic board has also not yet been able to do a deep dive into their piece of the $1.6-billion pie and how that funding will trickle down for local students.
“Our finance department is looking into all the bits and pieces now. Do we ever fund education enough? We haven’t had a chance to figure that out, even as a senior team yet,” she said. “There are some (new) pieces there for sure around PPE and technology, but I don’t know if it’s significantly above what we would traditionally get.”
“Education funding is complex, as I’m sure people realize. Addressing learning gaps is certainly a focus of the ministry and will be a focus of the board next year,” said Weishar.
The Catholic school board is ramping up their budget cycle now for next year and will be presented to trustees by the end of May, however, there is a time crunch because traditionally, the board would have received word on funding back in March.
“We’re a little under the gun, but this COVID landscape is an ever-changing field,” she said. “Educators are anxious. They like to know what they’re doing next year. We know people hope to leave for the summer with some semblance of understanding, but (it’s important to) know that the landscape we leave in June might be very different from the landscape we come back to in September.”
According to Lecce’s announcement, school boards have been instructed to not require a parental decision on in-person or remote learning before June 1 at the earliest.
Officials for both the public and Catholic school boards said that as of Wednesday, they have not received word from the Ministry of Education on when students would be returning to in-person learning this year.
The provincial stay-at-home order is in place until at least May 20.
“As far as we are aware, a return-to-school date hasn’t yet been determined,” said Weishar.
“We are very hopeful we will be able to return in-person before the end of the school year,” said Stephens.
