Board of Trustees

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New 2020-21 school year calendar

Wed, 26 Feb, 2020

At yesterday’s public meeting, the Board of Trustees voted to approve a revised 2020-21 school calendar with five additional non-school days. Starting in September 2020, each school day will be about 10 minutes longer to account for five fewer in-school days across the year.

The five additional days will be broken down into three professional development (PD) days and two non-instructional days. A non-instructional day means there are no teachers or students at schools.

FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES AND STAFF

More than 10,000 people—families and staff members—responded to an online poll to tell the Board how they’d like to see the five days scheduled. The majority in both groups were in favour of grouping days.

Based on feedback, the Board approved a revised 2020-21 calendar in which the non-instructional days are grouped with public holidays and PD days with weekends.

The change will save the Division more than $2 million through substitute teacher time and transportation costs. Students will benefit from greater continuity of teaching staff and more breaks to focus on their wellbeing.