(Twitter/Horizon School Division)

By Cam Lee

Horizon School Division

Horizon School Division director discusses potential return to in-school learning this fall

Jun 10, 2020 | 3:07 PM

A local school division head is weighing in on the province’s plan to resume in-school learning this fall.

Kevin Garinger is the director of education for Horizon School Division.

He told northeastNOW the government’s announcement gives the division hope that kids will be back with them this fall, which he called ‘tremendous’.

“The opportunity that comes with that is that we get those connections in a way that will allow our children to be with our staff, and I think as well really provide tremendous learning opportunities,” Garinger said.

Garinger said the government was also clear that everyone needs to be ready for in-school learning not to happen, should the COVID-19 pandemic take a turn for the worse. He added Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, Premier Scott Moe, and Minister of Education Gord Wyant all have the pulse of the COVID-19 situation.

Year in review: Municipal election

Year in Review: Municipal elections held in northeast

7h ago

Horizon SD

Look back, look ahead in Horizon School Division

13h ago

Giving back

Prairie North Co-op gives back to three local food banks

Dec 23, 2024

The province has not released details as to the nature of the return to in-school learning, and the health guidelines that will need to be followed.

Garinger said he doesn’t know the details either.

“No, not at this time. [Minister Wyant] will share that guideline through the response planning team, or his office, or however he chooses to do that,” Garinger said. “We’ll wait for the direction that will come, as well as guidelines as well that school divisions will operate under.”

He said health and safety is the number one priority, and added he expects they will get some clear directions from the province as to how to ensure safety.

Horizon School Division is in the process of getting feedback on the supplemental learning that has taken place since schools were closed in March. Garinger said he has seen positives and struggles, and there are much greater benefits of having children learning alongside staff.

“Staff did a great job doing everything they possibly can and there are certainly lots of learnings that came from that, and we’ll take those forward as we develop our contingency plan in the event that we have to learn from home at some point during the 2021 school year,” Garinger said.

The provincial announcement regarding in-school learning is a cause for optimism, Garinger said, and the division, including staff and children, will continue to follow COVID-19 based health guidelines going forward.

–

cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974