By Lawrence Belanger
Local Journalism Initiative
The Eastern Townships Schoolboard held its first commissioner’s meeting of the year this week and presented the annual report for the 2021-2022 school year.
Chairman Michael Murray called the meeting to session precisely at 7 p.m. with most attendees appearing via Zoom.
After a couple of corrections to the minutes from the Nov. 22 meeting and the adoption of the current meeting’s agenda, the meeting proceeded at a methodical and orderly pace.
The first public question period breezed by without any speakers, and Murray moved along the agenda.
An overview of the 2021-2022 annual report was presented by Michel Soucy, Director General of the ETSB with colleague Eva Letner, Director of Instructional Technology and Pedagogical Services. Soucy detailed how the lingering impact of COVID-19 restrictions taught them that they’d be living with mitigation measures moving forward. After the fourth wave at the start of the 2021 school year, “We quickly understood that we would have to get used to living with mitigation measures,” said Soucy. Enrollment rose for the 8th consecutive year, and general adult education is being offered in several ETSB communities. “A lot of effort” has also been invested to implement an accelerated training program for future licensed practical nurses and caregivers in long-term care facilities.
