EMSB pleased with decision to return to high school hybrid model

The English Montreal School Board will have no difficulty in adjusting to the latest directives from the Quebec government to return to a hybrid model for  students in Secondary III, IV and V as of Monday, April 12.

“We have implemented this very model for most of this year,” said EMSB Chair Joe Ortona. “Last week our system was placed under tremendous duress when we were told that we had to send all high school students back on a daily basis.”

Mr. Ortona noted that last week the EMSB  agreed to send Secondary III students back.  As of Tuesday, April 6, this was expanded to 16 other high schools in the system. However, plans called for  six  other schools, which were programmed with a hybrid model for Secondary IV and V students, to continue to follow that path through the end of the academic year

 “We respectfully ask the Quebec government to please retain this hybrid model for the rest of the school year,” said Mr. Ortona. “Our staff, students and parents were placed under tremendous duress with the changes   recommended by the government.  We provided very clear arguments why this was not a good idea and we’d like to think our voices were heard.”

The EMSB Council of Commissioners had also adopted a resolution supporting this procedure. “Bringing all Secondary IV and V students back in the  current model would not respect the Public Health Department measures recommending bubbles or social distancing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and thus protect the health of all staff members, students and their families,”  stated Mr. Ortona.  

 About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 37,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines. Our network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.