The Department of Education says it has not changed its approach to identifying school kids who are being invited to attend school in person during this period of online learning.
In the Tantramar family of schools, only a small number of students have been attending in person so far. Anglophone East District spokesperson Stephanie Patterson says that 19 students attended in person on Friday, January 14, across five area schools: Port Elgin Regional, Tantramar Regional, Marshview Middle School, Salem Elementary and Dorchester Consolidated. Patterson wouldn’t break down the numbers between the schools out of concern that the information could identify specific students.
It’s not clear whether the small number of students attending is due to a lack of demand from parents, and a lack of awareness that in-school learning is an option for students with specific needs or challenges.
According to New Brunswick Teachers Association president Connie Keating, schools have been asked to increase their in person attendance this week, but Department of Education spokesperson Flavio Nienow says that’s not the case.
“There has been no change in the school districts’ approach of identifying vulnerable or at-risk students since schools moved to home learning on Jan. 11, 2022,” Nienow says via email.
He also says his department is working with school districts to ensure vulnerable or at-risk students can “still access the services and resources they need while other students participate in home learning.”
Nienow says the students participating in at-school learning may have “vulnerabilities related to learning or mental-health needs, access to technology or Internet, or other needs identified by their school-based education support services team. They receive support at school primarily from Educational Assistants with the help of their teachers and other school personnel,” writes Nienow.
Nienow did not directly address concerns over teachers doing double duty online and in the classroom, and the role of educational assistants (EAs) who may or may not be in class with supervising teachers.
“We’re aware these measures may present additional challenges to educators, EAs or other school personnel,” writes Nienow. “That’s why we’d like to thank all school personnel, particularly the ones supporting vulnerable or at-risk students, for their continued flexibility and professionalism by going above and beyond to support the educational needs of their students.”
Changes to school case notifications
The Anglophone East School District announced changes Monday to how parents are notified about cases of COVID-19 in their community. Schools will no longer be sending notification messages home to families, but rather will report any self-reported cases to the school district, which will update its website daily at about 4pm. If a student or staff member tests positive with a rapid point-of-care test, they are asked to notify their school principal, so that the information can be passed along to the community.
As of Monday evening, the district website lists ten schools with cases of COVID-19, none of which are in the Tantramar area. The office of the superintendent also has an exposure notification.
