durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, December 22, 2022 | | 30 From high illness rates to upcoming contract renewals, here are some issues to keep an eye on at Durham schools in 2023. 1. HIGH ILLNESS RATES High illness rates across the province continue to create challenges in health-care settings and others, with school boards being no exception as they grapple with student and staff absences. "There continue to be high levels of absences and those continue to pose operational difficulties in terms of covering those absences," said Tracy Barill, director of education for the Durham Catholic District School Board. While illness rates across the province are high, Barill said to date student absence rates haven't yet tipped the board's outbreak threshold, which would trigger public health intervention. "Those measures existed pre-COVID, they just weren't well-known because it didn't happen often," Barill said, noting they continue to monitor the situation. "With regards to staffing we are certainly monitoring that. Throughout the pandemic there have been issues around increased absences due to illnesses, but whether or not those are more significant now than they have been in the past, we don't really have that sense." At the Durham District School Board officials are encouraging students to wear masks as cold and flu season reaches its peak. "As we are in cold and flu season, we are strongly recommending the use of masks as requested by Ontario's chief medical officer of health, and we are working closely with the Durham Region Health Department to ensure our schools continue to reflect healthy learning environments," the board said in a statement. 2. COVID RECOVERY The back and forth from virtual to in-person learning during the last few years as society adapted to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted academic performance for some children, a fact schools are actively working to address. "We have focused on providing seamless transitions to regular student routines. Overall, students and families have adjusted well to the many changes, and we endeavour to support student well-being through programming and other provisions," the DDSB said in a statement. "Resuming extra and cocurricular activities has been extremely helpful in terms of enhancing positive school climates and in providing enriched opportunities for students. Our schools provide tutoring and extra help for students who require additional support for success. All our educators, across the system, have prioritized differentiated instruction which places focus on ensuring that teaching and learning is centred on the individual needs of all students." The DCDSB is also providing extra focus on catching up students who may need a little help, although Barill notes the issue itself is "complex." Board-wide, a continued focus on literacy and numeracy will be a priority. "Everyone was impacted by COVID-19, and there are certain populations of people that were more dramatically impacted," she said. "The issue is really complex, but I would say the focus on equity is really important in being able to address the needs of those individual groups to help them move forward. Creating classrooms and learning spaces that will be supportive of our most vulnerable populations is a very big priority for us." 3. CURRICULUM AND SUBJECT FOCUS AREAS The new year is a big year for the Durham Catholic District School Board as they embark on the first year of their new three- year strategic plan -- "Inspire 2026," which puts a key focus on the board's core processes -- living, learning and living in faith -- with an emphasis on listening. "We're in a time right now where we are really cognizant and aware of the increasingly diversified nature of our students and staff and we're also recognizing that in order to best serve the needs of all our students, we need to be listening to our community and our students," said Barill. "Listening to others' experiences is critical to responding effectively in terms of programming and directions." To that end, Barill said new practices and processes proposed under the plan will be aimed at "supporting faith and well-being, advancing human rights and equity and advancing student learning." The DDSB is also focusing on human rights in their curriculum and throughout school life in general. "Our system-wide focus on Indigenous rights, human rights and anti-oppressive principles continues to be a key priority, and students and families should notice how this is becoming embedded in all aspects of school life," the board said. "This renewed focus also places an emphasis on student well-being. Across the province, there are new courses being rolled out in the secondary system and we are taking part in that initiative. " 4. POTENTIAL DISRUPTIONS TO IN-PERSON LEARNING With contract renewals on the calendar for both elementary and secondary teachers in Ontario, boards are hopeful that bargaining will be concluded without the need for any strike action but making contingency plans in case. "Over the last couple of years we have become very adept at being flexible and responding to emerging needs, often issues that would have been previously unimaginable. We've had to adjust and be able to make changes in fairly short order and so I would say our ability to respond to those types of interruptions has increased," said Barill. "And of course, we have contingencies, we are constantly working on contingency plans." At the DDSB, officials are prepared to put plans in place should disruptions become imminent. "We continue to monitor what is happening at the provincial table and will make plans as necessary," the board said. "We are hopeful that all parties will be able to reach a fair and negotiated settlement locally." FOUR ISSUES FACING SCHOOL BOARDS IN 2023 MOYA DILLON mdillon@durhamregion.com EDUCATION FROM HIGH ILLNESS RATES TO POTENTIAL DISRUPTIONS, HERE'S WHAT THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR COULD BRING Area school boards are monitoring high illness rates and other issues as they enter 2023. Jason Liebregts/Torstar