The Richmond school board will consider extending both elementary and secondary transitional programming for a couple extra months, instead of terminating it at the end of January.
This would come at a cost of about $500,000 and be covered by a federal grant that is meant to support schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
School board staff are recommending the elementary program continue until March 26 and the secondary program until April 23, which is the end of its third quarter.
Transitional learning was implemented in September to allow students to stay connected with the home school but learn remotely.
The recommendation is that check-ins with elementary students in the transitional program be reduced from twice a day to twice a week starting Jan. 1 in order to reduce the amount of time school-based teachers are spending away from their in-person students and reduce their workload.
Furthermore, staff recommending that the “public health context be re-assessed” before spring break to see whether transitional learning needs to be further extended.
But the staff report, which will be considered at next Wednesday’s board of education meeting, notes that it is “highly recommended” all students return to school by these dates.
Also recommended is providing parents with "accurate information" about the current public health context in schools
"It is clear from some parent communications that a significant amount of inaccurate information is circulating in the community that may be adding to parents' fears about sending their children to school," the report to the board of education notes.
The board of education will consider the staff recommendations at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
To register to watch the meeting via Zoom, go to sd38.bc.ca.
