What your child’s school might look like in September

Hamilton's public school board has unveiled its preliminary return-to-school plan - one that prompted a trustee to say it overwhelmed" her.

The 43-page executive report, presented to Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustees at a three-hour board meeting Monday evening, outlines the various learning models the board could put into effect depending on which return-to-school scenario the Ministry of Education chooses for the region come September.

It was a lot to take in.

I'm overwhelmed with everything," said trustee Christine Bingham. If I'm overwhelmed, I can't imagine what families are going to be feeling like."

Much of the report lays out how the board will practically implement the three return-to-school models the province has directed them to craft:

• Scenario A would see a full return to school with enhanced public health protocols;

• Scenario B would include an adaptive approach" with a blend of in-class and at-home learning, smaller class sizes, students split into cohorts" and alternate day school attendance;

• and Scenario C would be exclusively at-home learning.

In each scenario, students have the option of staying home, following along with an enhanced online learning model.

Both the premier and the minister of education have said they prefer Scenario A, a full return to school, but local public health circumstances will impact which scenario the ministry chooses for each region. Final decisions are expected on Aug. 4, but scenarios may shift throughout the school year, depending on public health recommendations and COVID-19 spread.

The HWDSB return-to-school report was presented by Peter Sovran, HWDSB's associate director of learning services. It included input from Hamilton public health and parents - via an online survey - and it also took into account practical realities and limitations imposed by the need to switch from one scenario to another, if necessary.

A more polished report is expected to be unveiled at the next board meeting on July 27, though the Ministry of Education still needs to approve the boards' plans. The Catholic board expects to release its return-to-school plans at a July 28 board meeting.

What will school schedules look like at the elementary and high school level?

If the blended Scenario B approach is chosen, the board wants to see elementary students attending school every other day and on alternate Fridays. For instance, Cohort A" - a group of no more than 15 students - would attend school Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday and Cohort B" would attend school Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Friday. On off" days, students learn from home.

Cohort A and B would likely have the same teacher, who is also teaching them online, allowing the board to shift smoothly into a Scenario A full-return model, if dictated by the province.

Another model could see Cohort A" attending school Monday and Tuesday and Cohort B" attending school Thursday and Friday, with the groups alternating on Wednesdays.

In high school, things get more complicated.

The board prefers a high school schedule similar to the preferred elementary model, with students split into two cohorts and each attending every other day and alternating Fridays. However, students would only attend school for 150 minutes in the morning to study one subject. In the afternoon, they would learn remotely, spending 50 minutes, respectively, on a second, third and fourth subject.

At the end of a 21-day rotation, students will learn at home for five days - a time gap advised by public health - and then a different subject would become the in-school morning lesson. Student cohorts would switch. In the next rotation, a third subject is the morning course, then a fourth.

Another option, called the quadmester model" would see the semester broken in half, with students studying two subjects at a time, one in the morning and one in the afternoon for 150 minutes each. Cohorts would attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays for the full day, with each group alternating Fridays. On off-days, students learn remotely.

Transportation and other considerations

Sovern said the ministry is encouraging non-use of bus" and non-use of vehicles" where possible, with students encouraged to instead walk or bike, presumably. The board plans to accommodate students who already qualify for busing, and who can't otherwise get to school, ensuring physical distancing is adhered to.

It may ease the minds of anxious parents to know the board plans to try to keep students from the same family within the same cohort, attending school on the same days, even if they go to different schools.

The board plans to ensure students with high-level special education needs can attend school on a daily basis.

All students and staff will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and are to remain home if they feel sick or have come in close contact with someone with a suspected or positive COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Students will also be encouraged to practise proper hand hygiene and physical distancing. Desks will be spaced out and Plexiglas barriers will be erected in schools.

If someone tests positive for COVID, all students and staff within their cohort will likely be asked to self-isolate by Hamilton public health," the report states.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com