High schools in Richmond will operate on a two-semester system next year with all students expected to be in school full time and in-person.
The two-semester plan allows for flexibility in case schools need to switch to a quarterly system whereby students attend two classes at a time in each quarter.
The Richmond School District has been operating on a quarter system this year, but students haven’t been in school full time and several hundred are doing their schooling remotely via a transitional learning program, taught by Richmond Virtual School teachers.
The B.C. Ministry of Education has asked all school districts to prepare a “flexible plan” that will meet health and safety requirements and students’ learning needs for an in-class return in the new school year, according to David Sadler, spokesperson for the Richmond School District.
District staff have discussed next year’s high school plans with its stakeholder groups, said Sadler.
“Discussions have centred around identifying a common secondary school schedule that will best meet the needs of learners and will provide a high degree of flexibility in the event that the district is required to adjust school timetables either prior to or during the 2021 to 2022 school year,” added Sadler.
Sadler explained to the Richmond News a semester system will give the “greatest degree of flexibility for schools to transition to or from the quarter system” if the Provincial Health Office requirements are similar to the past school year.
The semester-based system will only be implemented at high schools for one year.
“Given the degree of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, no decisions have been made for the 2022 to 2023 school year and beyond,” Sadler added.
“The district will engage in a consultation process with students, parents and staff before any decisions are made regarding future years.”
