LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. For most Lethbridge schools, Thursday was the last day of in-school classes until after the May long weekend. One school official described it as “a hectic dash to Monday” for teachers preparing to transition to on-line learning starting Monday. “We got a backpack full of stuff,” said Jessica Solvey, who was picking up her five-year-old daughter Charlie after her morning kindergarten class at Senator Buchanan Elementary School. “We’re ready to do some on-line, at-home learning.” Solvey said she and her husband work different shifts, so childcare won’t be a problem, but she understands the challenges that many families will be facing, including single parents.
As announced by Premier Jason Kenney on Thursday, stronger measures for targeted regions in the province that have high levels of active cases were set in place.
Lethbridge is one of those targeted regions with respect to education and operations of schools. Students in the Lethbridge School Division from Grade 7 to 12 will switch to at-home learning starting on Monday.
The situation will be re-evaluated by Alberta Health Services and Alberta Education as the two-week period comes to a close.
During a press conference on Friday, Lethbridge School Division Superintendent Cheryl Gilmore announced that May 3 will be used for preparation to move to full online delivery. Full delivery of online learning for those grades will start on Tuesday, May 4.