Rural Alberta schools close amid COVID-19 outbreaks
Posted Sep 20, 2021 1:44 pm.
Last Updated Sep 21, 2021 7:20 am.
CALGARY – Two rural Alberta schools are closing because of COVID-19.
Clearview Public Schools in central Alberta says Big Valley School and Donalda School are shifting to at-home learning for Grades 1 to 9 for the next two weeks because more than 10 per cent of the students are away with illness, many of them confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Two Alberta schools- Big Valley School and Donalda School – are shifting Grades 1-9 temporarily to online at-home learning beginning today.#yeg #yyc #ableg #Covid19ab pic.twitter.com/ELs8CKdRty
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) September 20, 2021
Kindergarten and playschool students will continue in-person at Big Valley School.
“Previously, we alerted our school community that we had over 10 per cent of students away due illness. At the time of writing this letter, the percentage of students away continues to be over 10 per cent with reported cases of COVID-19,” wrote the board in a release.
“Please know that this decision was not made lightly and we recognize the inconvenience this decision places on families. We appreciate your support, understanding and flexibility to ensure student learning continues on successfully during this time.”
In Calgary, two more CBE schools, Chief Justice Milvain School and Cambrian Heights, have been added to the outbreak list.
It means more than 10 per cent of the school population is absent with an illness.
NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman says the premier and education minister knew this would happen and they have done nothing.
