UPDATE at 5:30pm, May 6th
A teacher in La Crete, who wishes to remain anonymous, has informed the Trending 55 Newsroom that La Crete Public School, Sandhills Elementary School, Hillcrest Community School, Buffalo Head Prairie School, and Blue Hills Community School, will also continue operations as usual.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A post circling social media has many across the region asking questions.
A picture of an alleged letter sent to parents and guardians of The Ridgeview Central School in La Crete states:
“Please be advised that our students will NOT BE going to online learning. School will continue as is.
We ask that all parents and guardians stay off of social media with this knowledge.”
The post shows the letter signed by Acting Principal Eran Cardinal.
When the Trending 55 Newsroom reached out to Ridgeview Central School, we were told that they wouldn’t comment.
Trending 55 also reached out to the Education Minister’s Office and received this response courtesy of Press Secretary Nicole Sparrow:
“Alberta Education allows for specific exceptions from the shift to at-home learning to ensure continuity of learning. For example, schools for students with disabilities continue to receive supports and services in-person at school, regardless of the shifts to at-home learning.
Hutterite colony and Mennonite schools have also been granted exemptions, as these unique communities lack the technology and equipment required to support online learning.
If there is a COVID-19 case in school, the school operations will be evaluated by the school authority and Alberta Education. Staff and students will be expected to follow COVID protocols when working in schools, including those in Mennonite schools and on Hutterite colonies.
There has been no expectation or direction that this information be treated as confidential. To specifically clarify the contents of the letter, Alberta Education did not give direction to the school authority regarding communication on social media.”
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced earlier this week that all schools kindergarten through grade 12 must return to online studies as of Friday, May 7th.
-Damien Gnass, Trending 55
