The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) is looking for feedback from families on whether virtual schools should continue beyond the pandemic.
Director of Education John Howitt said they were created out of necessity for the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19, so they're investigating whether or not they could continue in the future.
"We are at the time of year when we are looking forward to future years planning, and while the pandemic, of course, is in the forefront, it's really important that we're looking longer-term and we're questioning whether some of the practices that have occurred, if there are silver linings or benefits to them, that we should consider whether or not to continue them beyond the pandemic."
Howitt reminds families that virtual schools are stand-alone schools with their own staff and are not the same as ‘remote learning' or eLearning courses.
"So, the purpose for us really is to gather feedback from parents about the value of continuing the program. We're not 100 per cent sure that we'll be permitted to do it by the ministry of education, so this is also helping us to understand if this is an area that we should be committing budget to and committing advocacy for permission to continue."
Howitt admits the platform has been effective for many students, but not all.
"We've had some wonderful, wonderful, success stories coming out of the virtual schools, which are different from the remote learning currently taking place due to the school closure."
Parents and guardians are invited to share their thoughts in a Thoughtexchange survey.
Feedback will accepted up until Sunday, January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
-with files from Ruby Sweeney
