New remote learning centre “not brick and mortar”

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This article was published 11/01/2021 (1651 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Mead’s new job has similarities to a regular principal, although the school setting is quite different.

Mead, former of principal of Mitchell Middle School, was announced last month as new principal of the Remote Learning Support Centre. The centre began operations on Monday, Jan. 4, and was one of the last ministerial items former Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen publicly worked on before his appointment as deputy premier.

The provincial government deferred The Carillon’s interview requests with Mead, with the most recent justification that Mead just started in his role. The remote learning centre is to offer various learning material, with priority toward smaller divisions that may have less capacity for remote learning.

The provincial government announced on Monday the remote learning centre had over 100 staff.

Donna Davidson, lead for the Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre, told The Carillon some staff, including Mead, will be located in office space at the St. James School Division. Teachers could work from various locations, Davidson said.

Teachers are to be paid on a graduated scale according to years of experience, as would other teachers, Davidson said.

While teachers could work from their homes, a goal of the centre is to assign teachers in an area to remotely teach students in that same area.

Provincial funding for teachers is secured until the end of June, Davidson said, but an online portal with teaching resources is to be available from now on.