Final reopening plans for Hamilton schools still being worked on as classes reopen in days

Hamilton school boards are still trying to finalize busing plans and other significant detailsas classes reopen as early as Wednesday.

Hamilton-WentworthCatholic District School Board and the public board are meeting tomorrow onthe local busing situation, which is in a dire state due to a significant shortage of bus drivers.

Pat Daly, HWCDSB chairperson, told CBC buses will still reach students in the Catholic board who start schooltomorrow and that parents will receive more information today.

Parents will be able to find out their child's stop time, location and route number using the Bus Stop Finder portal and their child's Ontario Education Number (found at the top of theirreport card).

It's another last minute adjustmentin a summer full of twists and turns that has frustrated educators, parents and students.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is also pushing back its plan to hand out final timetables for elementary schools by one day.

The public boardposted a notice online telling families it is still reorganizing elementary staff and that instead of the timetables being ready for Tuesday, they will be done Wednesday.

"Please check back at that time and disregard the current timetable information in this section," reads the notice.

Shawn McKillop, the board's spokesperson, told CBCstaffing continued into the weekend and schools received their final staffing placements in the late afternoon on Saturday.

"School superintendents told school administrators on Friday they they could complete their class lists and elementary timetables by Sept. 9. We originally communicated today as the date," he said.

"They will already be learning about their students and preparing their classrooms. The delay is because class lists need to be entered into our student information system digitally to be seen in the portal by parents."

The board delayed the start of school in case it needed more time for a situation like this one.

On Thursday, Hamilton public schools will beginjunior kindergarten orientation and scheduled meetings for students with special needs to help them transition into schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes start next week.

Attention parents, students and teachers: We want to hear from you!

We hope you'll use this form to tell us about school conditions, how classes are going or whatever other pressing issues are on your mind this September in Hamilton, Niagara, St. Catharines and Burlington.