Sask. school divisions to discuss supplemental learning progress

With schools in Saskatchewan remaining closed for the foreseeable future, Saskatoon’s school divisions are set to discuss the progress of their at-home learning programs this week.

The boards of education for both the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and the Saskatoon Public School division have been meeting electronically as a precaution against COVID -19. Members of the public can attend public division meetings electronically, while the Catholic division has been providing audio recordings of meetings on its website.

In its meeting Monday, the Catholic board will review its second pandemic response plan report, outlining measures taken by the division to continue to support families and staff while shifting learning online.

The public division will hear Tuesday from educators at an elementary and a high school in the city about how online learning is being implemented.

The province announced indefinite suspension of classes in response to the COVID -19 pandemic on March 16.

Under the five-phase Reopen Saskatchewan plan, there is no set date for when long-term restrictions on high-risk areas like schools will be lifted.

A 10-person limit on the size of public gatherings will only increase to 30 by the plan’s third phase, the start date of which has yet to be determined. In its pandemic response report, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools calls that number “an important figure … as we consider how to address pending operational parameters.”

Divisions have been working to provide online supplementary lessons to elementary and high school students. Challenges that have arisen in doing so stem from access to technology and continuing schools’ role in providing students with additional supports.

Hundreds of families in Saskatoon don’t have access to an internet connection or a device to engage with online learning. In response, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools has so far provided more than 700 devices like laptops and tablets to students, while the public division has handed out 800 laptops.

As part of a partnership with Sasktel and the Saskatoon Teachers’ Association, 600 mobile phones have been distributed to families to use as hot spots. The divisions were able to purchase the phones at a reduced price.

Both divisions have also been providing nutrition packages to students, transported by school bus and distributed by teachers and support staff.