HWDSB extends registration deadline to Thursday due to problem-plagued Parent Portal
Hamilton's public school board has extended the deadline for parents to register children for in-person or virtual learning as families continue to have problems accessing its online Parent Portal.
It is the second time the deadline has been pushed back. The deadline has now been moved from Tuesday at noon to Thursday at midnight.
On Monday evening, Peter Sovran, associate director of learning services at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, told trustees the board was considering alternatives to the troubled online registration system.
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Complaints from families emphasized having no access to the portal and not seeing all their children listed on the site when they did get access. Some also could not submit the form indicating if their child would do in-person or remote schooling.
It's only causing more stress for parents who are now having to adjust to the board's new plans for a staggered start to the school year.
The registration numbers are vital to the board's reopening plan. Manny Figueiredo, the board's director, previously told CBC up to 20 per cent of students may enrol online.
He has also said he understands the frustration around the portal issues.
"Things are coming fast and furious, as you know from ministry changing directions and staff is responding as quickly as they can and what happens is these kinds of crisis times are stress tests," he explained.
"There are going to be other challenges along the way."
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