HSCDSB Board – Schools to transition to Remote Learning Monday, November 7th

November 4, 2022

Dear Families of the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board:

We can appreciate how challenging things have been this past week or so with all of the uncertainty about your child’s learning and all that we see transpiring in the media with respect to the government and CUPE. I send you this communication, with an additional contingency plan with information that I have at this time, as we move into the weekend. In saying that, should strike action continue, students will learn remotely from home until further notice.

Here is the plan to transition to remote learning: Mon., Nov. 7, 2022

● Asynchronous learning will begin for those students who have the technology available to them.

● Schools will be preparing / organizing technology for student distribution. Please see below for further instructions should your child(ren) require technology to learn from home. Tues., Nov. 8, 2022

● Asynchronous learning will continue for those students who have the technology available to them.

● Families can begin picking up technology from their schools. Wed., Nov. 9 and until further notice.

● Synchronous learning will begin. Technology Distribution Please note that students will not be penalized or marked absent from class until they have the necessary technology to participate in classes. We recognize that access to individual digital devices for learning remains a key issue for many families. If your child(ren) requires access to a Chromebook or SEA device in order to participate in remote learning, please contact your school to make arrangements.

Opportunities to pick up devices at your child’s school will begin on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Please note that students will be required to return their device immediately upon return to in-class learning in the same working condition as when they signed out the equipment.

Students with special education needs who are unable to participate in remote learning may be offered in-person instruction at designated school sites, which will serve as school hubs. Designated sites were selected in order to maximize the staff available to support student programming and supervision and enable the school board to adequately maintain the cleanliness and safety of the school hubs that are in use.

In-person learning will be limited to students whose special education needs cannot be met through remote learning. This includes students who are blind, deaf and non-verbal. Students will be congregated into a school hub, where school administrators and special education non-union staff will be assigned to deliver programming.

Transportation will be arranged for each school hub. School principals will be reaching out to the parents of students who meet this criteria on Monday. School principals will also be reaching out to parents of medically fragile students to discuss alternatives to remote learning.

In closing, please understand that if it was possible, our schools would be open to in-person learning. Unfortunately, this is not a possibility since we cannot ensure the health, safety and wellness of our students and staff with over 30% of our employees not present in our schools. This is also the case for many other boards in the province.

We continue to pray for a quick resolution to this situation. In the event that CUPE members return to school, in-person instruction will begin immediately. I will continue to keep in close communication with you, including on the weekend.

Please continue to check the board website, social media and your email for communication from the board for any updates. Thank you for your continued support. Take care.

Sincerely,

Sandra Turco, Chair of the Board

Danny Viotto, Director of Education