Whether local students like it or not, the 2009-10 school year will begin on Sept. 1.
Traditionally, school has always started on the first Tuesday after Labour Day. But the holiday falls later than usual on the 2009 calendar, preventing school boards from accommodating the provincially mandated 194-day school year. There are only 192 school days between Sept. 8 and June 30, 2010.
So in early March the Wellington Catholic District School Board approved the earlier-than-usual starting date, and last week the Upper Grand District School Board followed suit.
“We realize that this is not going to be a popular decision,” said Bob Borden, chair of the UGDSB. “However, we have taken into consideration the timing of the notification, so families can make appropriate plans, if at all possible.”
Classes for both boards will begin on Sept. 1 (a Tuesday) with a board holiday on Sept. 4 (Friday), giving students a four-day weekend before they return to class on Sept. 8 (a Tuesday), following Labour Day.
But some trustees are not pleased with the decision.
“I certainly wasn’t on board,” said vice-chairman Ralph Edwards, trustee for Erin, Puslinch, and part of Guelph-Eramosa.
Edwards told the Advertiser he received calls from parents who were unhappy the board was considering the move. Many had already booked their holidays and were unable to cancel, he said, and some who were able to back out faced financial penalties for doing so.
“If it were me and I had holidays booked, I’d be taking my kids with me. I’m sure others will do just that,” Edwards said.
And he was not the only one that hinted classrooms could be relatively empty the three days prior to Labour Day.
“I think attendance is probably going to be low,” said Bruce Schieck, trustee for Mapleton, Minto, and part of Wellington North.
As one of only two trustees to vote against the early start – the other was Edwards – Schieck lobbied for professional activity days prior to Labour Day. He wondered what could be taught if only 50% of students are in class from Sept. 1 to 3.
However, Don Drone, chairman of the Catholic board, does not anticipate a high level of absenteeism before Labour Day.
“We’re hopeful this will not create a challenge for most families,” Drone said, noting the board received very few concerns from parents over the early start. “We believe by and far the vast majority of students will be in school ready to go, ready to start the new school year, on Sept. 1.”
He said the WDCSB has been very consistent from the beginning and is happy both local boards will have identical schedules this year, as has been the tradition for some time.
“We’re delighted the Upper Grand was able to come to a similar decision,” Drone said.
In addition to limiting the school year to 192 days, starting classes after Labour Day would have also had financial implications for both school boards.
By adopting common calendars, the boards save money on transportation since they share busing provided by Wellington Dufferin Student Transportation Services.
It costs the Upper Grand board $77,000 each day it busses students to school when the Catholic board does not. There are also additional busing costs to the Catholic board if the calendars do not match.
Some trustees view the decision as the best possible compromise given the situation, but Schieck and Edwards said the easiest solution would have been for Education Minister Kathleen Wynne to reduce the school year to 192 days.
That way, they said, classes could have started the Tuesday after Labour Day, as usual, without any controversy.
“With a simple stroke of the pen she could have solved the problem, but unfortunately, she was reluctant to do that,” Edwards said.
Schieck added the board will likely compare attendance figures before and after Labour Day. The results, he said, could help the boards make a decision next year, because they face a similar dilemma with the 2010-11 school year.
