By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

temporary

Red Deer Catholic shifts online for Grade 7-9 students at seven schools

Jan 27, 2022 | 2:52 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools has moved students in grades 7-9 at seven schools to online learning.

The shift was implemented Jan. 24, with students slated to return on Feb. 3.

Affected schools include:

• St. Francis of Assisi Middle School
• St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School
• St. Patrick’s Community School
• École Camille J Lerouge School
• St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School
• St. Gregory the Great Catholic School
• École Mother Teresa School

Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan tells rdnewsNOW a letter went out to parents on Jan. 18 notifying them that this shift may be coming.

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Another notice confirming it would happen went out a few days later.

In the original letter, it’s outlined that a decision on the matter would be based on one or all of three factors: the ability to have school staff available, attendance rates, and what is occurring in the local context with overall health data.

“Our parents have been extremely supportive with this plan. They appreciated the advance notice so they could get their child ready if and when. Then when we did have to launch this plan, they were encouraging, supportive and understanding,” she says. “Everyone wants children in schools and we don’t want to make decisions like this.”

During the week of Jan. 17-21, Red Deer Catholic saw 576 total staff absences — 352 teacher absences and 224 for support staff.

Of those, 63 teacher absences went unfilled, and 102 support staff absences went unfilled.

Finnigan says the division did not require permission from the Ministry of Education to make the shift, though it would need permission for an extension beyond 10 days, as per ministry regulations.