At its board meeting tonight, the Grande Prairie Public School District will be taking another look at its calendar for next year.
A decision was delayed until the end of February so they could survey stakeholders.
The district got rid of early dismissals on Monday, adding “professional learning communities” on Friday afternoons, and Superintendent Carol Ann McDonald maintains the teachers appreciate having the extra time.
“To ensure that our teachers and our students are prepared for the world – the next world – and that’s why we are providing that support time, so teachers can really drill down and understand the students and what their needs are.”
However, there have been concerns from parents around transportation and childcare on half day Friday.
The school board is now looking at alternatives, but McDonald explains going back to full day Fridays may not be the best option.
“Our collective agreement has our teachers in front of students 188 days a year, and if we go to full days, that would mean having less days in front of students, so those are all the options we have to weigh.”
The other days of the week were lengthened, and the same amount of hours are taught in four and a half days instead of five.
