CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD IMPLEMENTS CLASSROOM CLOSURE POLICY

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board is implementing a new classroom closure policy to deal with ongoing staff shortages that have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

The new policy, implemented in May, affects elementary school classrooms.

Previously, the school board had closed at least four schools when there weren't sufficient staff to operate. The classroom closure policy, which other school boards in the province use, is meant to be less obtrusive.

"The impact is still significant, and we don't take that lightly," said Pauline Stevenson, communications manager for the SMCDSB.

When staff absences arise, the school board has a list of supply staff, but the list doesn't always provide sufficient coverage.

Stevenson described the staff shortages as a perfect storm.

"We were dealing with significant staffing issues even before COVID," she said.

The time it takes to graduate from Ontario teachers' college was extended several years ago from one year to two, along with other changes in the accreditation of new teachers, drastically changing the education workforce landscape.

According to a 2020 report from the Ontario College of Teachers, between 2008 and 2011, there were about 12,000 new teachers being accredited and 4,350 retiring annually, for an annual difference of about 7,700 new teachers.

From 2019-22, there were about 5,850 new teachers being accredited and 5,650 retiring annually, for an annual difference of about 200 new teachers.

"We're already in a deficit of people coming in to the system compared to retirement," Stevenson said.

For parents and guardians, the new classroom closure policy will mean their children won't be able to attend school if there isn't sufficient supervision. Children will be able to access virtual learning, but there will not be a teacher to provide live lessons.

If a classroom closure is necessary, the principal will notify the impacted classroom by email and phone by 9 p.m. the previous evening. The school board doesn't expect classroom closures to happen frequently.

"This is an absolute last resort," Stevenson said of the policy. "Principals and viceprincipals are doing all kinds of creative things to try to keep classrooms open."

For more information, visit www.smcdsb.on.ca/our_board/ school_opening.