Schoolchildren in North Vancouver may face another year of fewer but longer days in front of a teacher in 2012.
The school districts board of education voted 5-2 Tuesday in favour of starting consultation about a local school calendar, one that differs from the provincial standard. For the last two years, North Vancouver has extended spring break and lengthened long weekends to reduce staffing costs, adding minutes to each day to make up the difference.
Superintendent of schools John Lewis stressed that an early vote to open the issue allows parents to have some certainty.
Thirty days notice is needed after youve made a decision. There has not been any decision about a local school calendar. So if we have an October board meeting to declare its intent, then we have discussion, so the decision would not take place until the November board meeting, he said.
Folks are really busy in the fall. We should do a thorough consultation, said Trustee Susan Skinner, who voted against the motion. Its not that were stalling. We should have a thorough discussion. We should be as inclusive as possible . . . so it doesnt look like weve already decided.
Trustee Barry Forward, who also voted against the motion, said the school calendar is such a big, big issue.
We still have families that cant afford that time and the loss of class time that happens in the senior years is really short-sighted. Removing days from the calendar is not the right thing to do, he said.
I support the motion, said Trustee Mary Tasi, because were going to have a conversation and the public is welcome to come.
The board referred the issue to its education and programming committee, which meets Oct. 11.
