DSBN mulls in-person summer school if province OKS it

District School Board of Niagara will be holding summer school courses virtually, but there is hope that students seeking credits in July and August will also be able to do so in person.

This depends on it being permitted in Step 2 of the province’s Roadmap to Reopening, in consultation with Niagara Region public health, DSBN communications consultant Carolyn Loconte said.

“As soon as we learn more, we will be reaching out to our summer school learners,” she said.

“If in-person classes for the summer are permitted by the province, then we will be working with NRPH to ensure they meet all the required health and safety protocols,” she said.

Ontario Ministry of Education spokesperson Api Panchalingam said a memo was sent to school boards in the province on June 3.

It told boards they should keep their options open when it comes to the possibility of inperson classes being permitted during the summer.

“While provincial health data continues to evolve, school boards are asked to continue to be flexible in their summer programming and plan for multiple delivery options that include in-person and/or remote teaching and learning,” said Panchalingam in an emailed statement.

“At this time, in-person learning is not permitted; however, the government continues to examine the evolving provincial health data and is exploring possible options for summer learning in July and August.”

Niagara Catholic District School Board is offering all of its summer school programming virtually and has no plans for in-person learning, according to a statement from the board on June 8.

As of earlier this month, more than 1,200 students had already registered, said Rob Dipersio, principal of continuing education for Niagara Catholic.

DSBN had close to 2,500 students enrolled as of last week.

In 2020, the Catholic board taught about 3,000 students in the summer months, while DSBN had about 5,000 enrolled last year.

DSBN has more than 800 Grade 7 and 8 students signed up to earn a Grade 9 secondary school credit early in 2021, said Loconte.