Online learning has really taken off bolstered by the move online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foothills School Division Superintendent Chris Fuzessy says a big part of their education plan moving forward involves Hub@Home which is expanding from grades 10 to 12 to include grades one to nine.

"We have heard some feedback that there may be some discomfort in certain families about returning to school, with all of the unknowns around COVID-19 and what school may look like and so we wanted to make an opportunity available for those families to remain with Foothills School Division but have teacher instruction available to them through that online format," he says. "In more of a mid to long term, are there families within our territory who are currently opting to home school who may choose to return to Foothills through that online format and perhaps bump up our enrolment a little over time."

Fuzessy says teachers have done a great job of pivoting to online education since schools were closed but he's not sure it'll be the way of the future.

"One of the things we've heard from parents, from staff, from community during this current continuity of learning model is the value of connection and the values of being in school connecting with your friends, connecting with teachers, connecting with community, so I'm not sure that we'll be a great uptick in our enrolment as a result of our Hub@Home, but it's certainly being valued as another option for parents," Fuzessy says.

Assistant Superintendent Drew Chipman says it's important to note, what's been offered this spring isn't necessarily what full time online learning will look like.

He says if it's true online learning, then students will have to take a full course load in all subjects.

 

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