Photo: Pixabay

By Caden Fanshaw

Hybrid Learning

No ‘Hybrid Learning option’ for SD57 because schools didn’t qualify

Sep 4, 2020 | 4:31 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There are four options for students in School District 57 this year, but a “Hybrid Learning” option for secondary students similar to those seen in Vancouver and Surrey isn’t one of them.

The question brought up from a parent in Thursday night’s virtual town hall put on by the school district.

School District 57 Superintendent Anita Richardson says “from the beginning, the Ministry of Education was very clear that only certain schools and jurisdictions qualified to provide hybrid learning.”

“Prince George did not have any schools that qualified,” says Richardson.

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Richardson says Prince George schools don’t qualify because all of the secondary schools have less than 1,400 students. In B.C., only schools that have over 1,500 students qualify as large and furthermore qualify for the hybrid learning model.

The four options that are offered this year in SD 57 include:

• In-Class Instruction
• Transition to In-Class Instruction
• Distributed (Distance) Learning (DL)
• Home Schooling

The Ministry of Education says in a statement:

“We understand the anxiety many families are feeling about their children returning to the classroom and for some, in-class learning may not be an option. We expect school districts will be flexible and provide families who need it with remote learning options that keep children connected to their school community.”

“Minister Fleming directed school districts to survey families in their community to determine their school plans for September – and to confirm if they are planning for their child to attend school classes in September or if they need alternative learning options. Where there is demand for an alternative to in-class instruction, we gave school districts the flexibility, funding certainty and the tools to find solutions that work for families.”

“The Prince George School District is offering families four different options – including a transition plan for families who are uncertain about their kids starting the year in school.”

In an SD57 survey, over 97 per cent of respondents said they are planning to send their child back to the classroom.

Some parents do say it would be nice to have the hybrid option.

“It would be nice to have the option,” says Courtney Penman. “Keeping them home there’s no social interaction with other kids, yet if they have the chance to have a little social interaction at school.”

Others like Lyman Miller says he’s happy to be sending the kids back but he’d like to have the option.

If you would like more information on SD57’s back to school plan, all of the information is available on their website.