Four Brantford schools surpass 30 per cent absent threshold as province launches COVID-19 reporting portal
It's been nearly a week since Ontario schools reopened to in-person learning and information on school closures and absenteeism rates is now posted online.
Unlike how COVID-19 cases in classes were handled before the holiday break, boards are no longer required to report each staff or student case and full classrooms aren't being dismissed if someone tests positive for COVID-19.
Instead, student and staff absenteeism is being tracked. If 30 per cent of the school population is absent, a letter will be sent home in conjunction with public health notifying parents and reminding them of infection prevention and control measures.
The 30 per cent threshold will not automatically trigger a school closure, but a pivot to remote learning could be considered at that time.
On Monday morning, a provincial portal displaying absenteeism rates at schools across Ontario went live. The portal shows data from the day before, so information on the portal Monday was reported Friday.
Numbers includes all absences, including those unrelated to COVID-19.
As of Friday, four Brantford schools have surpassed the 30 per cent absenteeism threshold:
- Graham Bell-Victoria PS, 43.3 per cent
- Central PS, 35.7 per cent
- Centennial-Grand Woodlands PS, 32.9 per cent
- Bellview PS, 31.1 per cent
According to a spokesperson with the Grand Erie District School Board, many students at Bellview and Central Public Schools arrived late to class, which were recorded as absences. Late attendance updates showed both schools were below the 30 per cent threshold.
The school board added that Centennial-Grand Woodlands Public School and Graham Bell-Victoria Public School serve as hubs for enrolled remote learners who are not physically in class. The board said it included absences for remote learners, but the province only compared absences to the total number of in-person learners rather than both remote and in-class students.
Three other Brantford schools are nearing the 30 per cent mark:
- Major Ballachey PS, 28.4 per cent
- Prince Charles PS, 25.8 per cent
- Tollgate Technological Skills Centre SS, 27.5 per cent
As for Waterloo Region, because Friday was a PD Day for local Catholic and public elementary schools, high schools are the only Waterloo Region institutions on the list.
The highest absenteeism reported thus far in Waterloo Region is at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge, where 27.1 per cent of staff and students were absent Friday.
That's followed by Southwood Secondary School in Cambridge, which sits at 26.5 per cent as of Friday.
The provincial website also lists the number of schools that have had to close due to COVID-19. Right now 16 of Ontario's 4,844 schools are shut down. The exact schools are not listed, that information is only available from individual school boards.
Absenteeism rates for schools across the province can be viewed on the portal here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.