Randerson Ridge elementary school was the site of the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases to date for SD68, but is due off Island Health's exposure list by the end of the weekend. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

EXPOSURE EVENTS

Nanaimo-Ladysmith schools nearly cleared from Island Health exposure list

Nov 26, 2020 | 11:06 AM

NANAIMO — School District 68 will no longer be featured on Island Health’s school exposure list by the weekend, barring any new exposure events.

It’s welcomed relief after 22 exposure events across three secondary and two elementary schools in Nanaimo and Ladysmith.

Superintendent Scott Saywell said during a SD68 Board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 25, the exposures tested procedures in place to ensure student safety.

“Provincially, given the hundreds of school exposures only two per cent translated into a school transmission. That’s a very small number and clearly the protocols we have in place are working and schools are safe.”

Data from public health showed as of Nov. 19, 549 school exposures had occurred in B.C. with just 12 stemming from in-school transmission.

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Schools are listed as COVID-19 exposure sites for 14 days after their most recent exposure.

Dover Bay and John Barsby Secondary were removed from the list by Thursday, Nov. 26. Randerson Ridge, Frank J. Ney elementary schools and Ladysmith Secondary will be gone by the weekend.

Attendance suffered greatly as exposure events swept across the district, Saywell said.

Both Dover Bay and John Barsby Secondary saw attendance drop 50 per cent following exposure events being made public, with surrounding elementary schools registering a 25 per cent drop.

Randerson Ridge elementary, the largest cluster to date, had up to 65 per cent of its students away after exposure events were announced Nov. 15.

All schools have either returned, or are returning, to normal absentee rates.

More students are also funneling into online and distance learning options provided by the district, something which Saywell said is not sustainable.

“It’s a financial burden because we’re paying for a seat in a neighbourhood school and paying for another seat for a child in the (Distance Learning) program…clearly we can’t continue to do that.”

Saywell said about half of students in distance learning failed to complete their coursework in the shortened term, leaving them playing catchup right now on top of new courses.

“Learning online has rigor to it, it requires students and families to be absolutely committed to whole learning and really requires students to be self-directed, independent learners.”

Around 20 families are still making a decision on what they want to do, with the rest either attending in-person or registered in distance learning.

School District 69 in Parksville and Qualicum remains the site of one exposure at Kwalicum Secondary School, with events on Nov. 18 and 19.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley