Skip to content

Sault high schools to remain closed, ADSB elementary students encouraged to stay home

Only district high schools are going back for in-person learning this week
160217-ADSBOFFICE-DT
Algoma District School Board office file photo. Darren Taylor/SooToday

Algoma Public Health has instructed local school boards to keep secondary students in the Sault home for the next two weeks, while asking boards to give parents the option of keeping elementary level kids home. 

High school students with special education needs that can't be accommodated through remote learning have the option to attend school if they wish.

While APH's recommendation to boards was that elementary students have the option of learning remotely or returning to school, Algoma District School Board (ADSB) said in a letter to parents that they are 'strongly encouraged', if possible, to continue with remote learning in order to reduce risk by lowering the number of students in school, as Northern Ontario's shutdown gets extended another 14 days.

This comes despite the provincial government giving the all-clear for for Northern Ontario health units to return to the classroom on Monday.

Both boards advise that elementary schools and programs will be open and busses will be operational for parents who must send their children to school.

Secondary students at Kina Awiiya, Korah, Prince Charles, Superior Heights, White Pines, and St. Mary's College will remain in remote learning for two weeks (from Jan. 11 - 22), and will not attend school in-person.

H-SCDSB says its secondary students will receive a minimum of 225 minutes of synchronous instruction and 75 minutes of asynchronous instruction each day, and that secondary students with significant special needs will continue to learn in person at their school.

District secondary schools, including CASS, Chapleau, Elliot Lake, Hornepayne, Michipicoten, North Shore Adolescent, W.C. Eaket) are slated to return to school in-person.

In a news release issued today, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Loo stated, “COVID-19 activity is not the same throughout the north, nor throughout Algoma. In local areas where there has been an increase in COVID-19 activity, there is a vital need to keep strong preventive measures in place. At the same time, we must work together to minimize impacts on student learning, to support the school community, and to support families and essential worker parents, who depend on in-person learning, and whose essential work is critical to the pandemic response.”

If returning to in-person learning, parents are reminded to: 

  • Ensure your child has/brings a supply of masks
  • Remind your children of the need to follow all health and safety measures, at all times
  • Remind children to maintain distance at recess (elementary) and if leaving the school at lunch (secondary)
  • Students in K-3 are strongly encouraged to wear masks

“No decisions during this pandemic have been easy.  We are extremely grateful for the ongoing, collaborative relationship we have with our public health units and for the dialogue, brainstorming and sharing of information we've had over the last 24 hours with Algoma Public Health," said Lu Reece, director of education for the ADSB, in a statement emailed to SooToday. "Working to find a solution that respects the different communities across Algoma was the work and leadership of many who want to keep the health and safety of everyone at the forefront.  We believe we have provided parents with some reassurance and some options to ensure learning can continue during this new landscape in Sault Ste. Marie.”

As of last night, Algoma Public Health has reported 110 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March. Of those cases, 44 are active in Algoma residents, and one is a positive case in a non-Algoma resident who is temporarily in the region. There have been no deaths reported in APH's jurisdiction related to COVID-19.

Comparatively, there have been 1525 positive cases reported in Sault, Mi by Chippewa County Health Department. CCHD has confirmed 15 COVID-19-related deaths. Of the cases, 968 have recovered and eight are currently hospitalized.