The Rocky View School (RVS) Division plans to continue with in-person learning at this time, despite the temporary shift to online for junior high and high school students in Calgary and Edmonton.

In a letter to parents yesterday, Board Chair, Fiona Gilbert and Superintendent of Schools, Greg Luterbach; RVS addressed the recent move to online learning for Grade 7 to 12 Students under the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District. 

They say that the decision was based on staffing shortages as well as increasing case counts throughout those schools and communities. For now, they say that all RVS schools will remain open as they are able to maintain enough teachers in classrooms and the majority of students, are not in isolation and still able to attend school in person.

Along with the Calgary School Boards, Fort McMurray Public School Division and Fort McMurray Catholic Schools also made the shift to online learning on April 19.

Yesterday (April 21) Education Minister, Adriana LaGrange announced that Grades 7 to 12 students at Edmonton Catholic Schools and Edmonton Public schools will also make the temporary switch to online learning starting tomorrow (April 22.)

Both Gilbert and Luterbach acknowledge that many Albertans will have mixed feelings about RVS' decision to continue with in-person learning.

They say "We recognize that for some families this is positive news while some others feel the entire system or their select school should move online. The Government of Alberta released the criteria for moving an entire system online and it includes chronic substitute teacher shortages; a significant number of students and staff isolating; previous requests to shift select schools online showing that this is an incremental measure; and substantial COVID-19 cases in the community/region."

They say that RVS will continue to monitor the system and schools closely.

"We are monitoring our system and schools closely against these criteria to determine if we might need to request approval to shift a school or our entire system temporarily online."

The board says that while they respect and understand that some families may choose to keep their child home from school temporarily due to COVID-19 or other circumstances, teachers are not expected to provide Zoom sessions for those students choosing to stay home.

All RVS students and staff are urged to refer to the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist before heading out the door each day.