ALCDSB replaced paper-based processes with Clevr to transform their Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) program into a true “team sport”.

THE PROGRAM

What is Supervised Alternative Learning?

The Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) program creates bespoke, individualized plans for students who are disengaging from their education. Each plan must be clearly stated and agreed to by everyone involved.

As Superintendent Sonya Melim describes it, a SAL is a “team-based sport” — involving teachers, EAs, social workers, principals, attendance counsellors, and mental health supports all working together.

About Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board

ALCDSB serves a vast geographic region stretching 16,000 square kilometres across Eastern Ontario, supporting nearly 13,000 students in 41 schools. The board’s Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) program exists to re-engage the district’s most at-risk youth through bespoke, individualized learning plans.

16,000 km² spanning Eastern Ontario
Nearly 13,000 students across 41 schools
Dedicated SAL program for at-risk youth

The Challenge: A Disconnected Paper Trail

Before implementing the Clevr solution, the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) struggled with a fragmented, paper-based system that hindered their Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) program. Managing SAL applications and plans across 41 locations and multiple teams created significant barriers. Vital information was trapped in physical files accessible only to those in the same building. Ultimately, the administrative burden of manual forms and extensive photocopying made it increasingly difficult to stay connected and provide the consistent support their students required.

The Critical Question

In this interview, Sonya shares how moving away from paper-based processes has allowed her team to bridge the gaps across 16,000 square kilometres, ensuring that the “connective tissue” of support follows their most at-risk students wherever they go. (4-min video)

The Solution: How Clevr Transformed the SAL Program

ALCDSB implemented Clevr as a “one-stop shop” for their most sensitive student data, digitizing the entire SAL lifecycle from applications and hearings to ongoing plan management. The platform transformed what was once a fragmented paper trail into a coordinated “team sport” in which their most at-risk students are supported by a unified team, regardless of where they are on the map. By moving the SAL program into Clevr, ALCDSB has realized significant improvements in operational efficiency and student support.