THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has extended at-home learning at schools in Thunder Bay through the end of the revamped March Break.
However, students at one area school headed back to the classroom this week.
A representative of the Thunder Bay Christian School confirmed the school, located on Cooper Road in Rosslyn, returned to in-person learning on Monday.
Dr. Janet DeMille, medical officer of health at the health unit, on Wednesday said she was satisfied with the plan put in place by school officials.
"They were included initially and then they reached out. They have some fairly unique circumstances related to that," DeMille said. "We didn't include them in the further extension, which is essentially allowing them to be open. They had a very strong safety plan.
"I think there were challenges as well for that school in providing online learning. A number of parents in their school community didn't have easy access or good wi-fi ... That was one of the bigger reasons. They certainly had issues last year when everything was closed down and when in-person school is suspended they have to do things in a bit of a different way because of those challenges."
DeMille said the school has a strong safety plan in place.
"They strengthened it and they communicated with all the people that are part of the school community. We continue to work with them and monitor them. But essentially it allows them to stay open," DeMille said.
The medical officer of health said the school is large enough to allows students and staff to spread out, which combined with enhanced screening, made reopening to in-class learning feasible.
"It's a different type of school. It doesn't fall under the regular expectations for a school."
The extension affecting students and staff has been applied to the Lakehead District School Board, the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, CSDC des Aurores Boreales’ Thunder Bay Schools and the Lac des Mille Lacs Education Centre.
DeMille said it's nice to see number dropping in Thunder Bay, but they're still not low enough to allow the rest of the city's schools to allow in-class learning.
"We see school-aged children with COVID and it's a fairly elevated number. It just reflects what's happening in our community. If these children were going to school, that would relate to management of school-related cases that the risk to schools and to others-- there's a public health risk and it's a lot on the operational side."
Students at the affected schools will not return to class until at least April 19.
