Two week spring break coming to Burnaby schools?

Photo by epSos.d

Parents in Burnaby received notices this week regarding the option to switch to a two week spring break. Burnaby and New Westminister are currently the only lower mainland school districts which have a one week break. Other districts  are off the last two weeks of March while in Burnaby students are off the third week only. The notice to parents reads: 

"Due to new provincial legislation, Burnaby School District has an opportunity to have a conversation about whether a common school calendar for Metro-district will work for Burnaby. Parents, students, staff and the community are invited to join the discussion on future school calendar options for spring break. Should it remain a  one-week break or should we adopt the Metro-district two-week model?"

Parents are given a link to Burnaby school district  41's website.  

According to the site, the  two week model would bring Burnaby in line with other school districts and would save $250, 000 annually. The move would also be an employee benefit which would help the district keep and attract the best teachers.

Parent Suzanne Landrie, who has two daughters at Moscrop Secondary is not totally convinced it is a good plan. "I think it's a really long time for the kids to be off from school," she said.  Her daughter Sydney said, "if nothing changes with the school year then yes two weeks, but if it means less summer then one week."

The proposed two week schedule would not impact summer vacation, but would mean five less instructional days per year. Currently Burnaby students attend school 185 days per year. Under the two week schedule they would attend 180 days per year.

Update

Parents voted in favour of a two week spring break. This was announced by the school district during the week of March 28. In 2014 Burnaby schools will have two weeks off in March.