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Richmond’s transitional learning program will continue through the end of the school year, following a unanimous vote by trustees at a special school board meeting tonight.
Photo by Hannah Scott
Online learning extended through end of school year
By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Published 8:30 PST, Wed March 10, 2021
Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021
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Richmond school trustees voted unanimously to extend the district’s transitional learning program through the end of June.
The decision was made at this week’s school board meeting. At Spul’u’kwuks and Garden City elementary schools, which use alternate term calendars, the program will be in place through the end of their school years, which run into July.
Currently, 2,200 elementary students and 300 secondary students (in Grade 8 and 9) remain in the program. There are 20 teachers responsible for the elementary program and 12 for the secondary program, plus one counsellor. A reallocation of $900,000 from the federal return-to-school funds is required to pay those teachers. The district’s secretary-treasurer Roy Uyeno said the funds can be taken from previously uncommitted contingency funds as well as removed from funding allocated to technology and cleaning supplies.
“The district will continue to meet all health and safety requirements with a reduction in spending within these accounts,” Uyeno confirmed.
Superintendent Scott Robinson said the hope was initially that most students would be back in school prior to the December break. Richmond Teachers' Association president Liz Baverstock echoed that sentiment.
“As we look back, had we known we would be in this place today, we may have made very different decisions because we would have known that this was not going to be a transitional piece,” said Baverstock.
A report from Robinson in advance of the meeting recommended extending the program.
“There are a number of parents who, for a variety of very valid reasons, have a different perspective than public health experts at this time, and don’t believe that it is safe to send their child back to school,” said Robinson.
While trustees supported the current extension, they were unanimous it will be a joyful day when all students are back in class in person.
“I do think we should continue the (transitional) program, but what a wonderful time it will be when students can go back to school and be with their teachers and have school communities again,” said trustee Debbie Tablotney.
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