It might be a year away but students, parents and teachers who like to plan ahead can look forward to a two week-spring break in 2012 - as well as an extra day on the Remembrance Day long weekend this fall.
The School District 43 board of education approved the extra days off Tuesday even though teachers said more learning had to be crammed into a shorter time and principals said sports seasons had to be adjusted.
School District 43 will add March 12 to 16, 2011 to the standard Ministry of Education spring break of March 19 to 23, in line with other Metro Vancouver districts. And Monday, Nov. 14 will be added this fall to make a four-day Remembrance Day long weekend.
This would be the second year of extended holidays aimed at saving about $400,000 in salaries for substitute teachers that would otherwise be spent covering for teachers absent because of illness.
In its brief to the board of education, the Coquitlam Teachers' Association expressed concerns about the impact of the decision on the schedules of teachers on call, whose hours will shrink because their services won't be needed.
As well, it was noted some course material was crammed because of the way the Easter long weekend fell in the calendar and the Coquitlam Principals' and Vice-principals' Association noted that sports schedules had to be adjusted and struggling students had less time to bring their marks up to a pass.
The break has been scheduled to create a more balanced winter/spring session next year.
Trustees unanimously approved the longer break and scheduled dates.
