Janet Steffenhagen, Vancouver Sun reporter and blogger, posted a piece discussing the possible balanced calendar approach for B.C. students (i.e. full-year schooling) once the 2013-14 school year arrives.
Last September, B.C. Education Minister George Abbott announced the end of the traditional school year come Fall 2013, but for Surrey, this is nothing new and is likely not to affect change in the near future.
Something Steffenhagen only mentions in brief.
An elaboration on Surrey
The topic of balancing the school calendar in Surrey first erupted in 2003 said Shawn Wilson, chair of Surrey’s board of education.
The district drew up recommendations to consider a balanced school schedule, among other potential approaches, given the government’s legislative changes made to the School Act in 2002, which permitted districts to vary its student calendars and schedules.
The report was commissioned by Dr. F. I. Renihan who was then, CEO and Supt. of the Surrey school district.
It examined a number of potential approaches to changing the school calendar: extended school holidays, the four-day school week, balanced calendar, flexible schedule and preparation time alternative were all discussed at length.
The balanced calendar approach was seen as a worthy pilot project to test, however whether this was conducted or not is still being researched.
The four-day work week was viewed as something best fit to “small, rural communities,” and preparation time alternative did not fit the amended School Act legislation then.
Extended school holidays and flexible scheduling, both broad and less-invasive approaches, were seen as possible avenues.
Read the full report here: School Calendar Committee Report 2003
More to come…
Surrey BC'er 