Two more professional development days are being added to this school year, much to the dismay of some parents and students.
Langley school trustees shared parents’ concerns at the most recent board of education meeting Dec. 8. The two dates, Jan. 15 and April 18, 2016 were passed by the board of education, with trustee Shelly Coburn opposed.
The two extra days are for teachers to learn the new B.C. curriculum, now being rolled out.
“I’ve received some calls from parents of Grade 12 students concerned that another two days is too much loss at such an important time,” said trustee Meghan Dykeman.
Trustees Coburn and Alison McVeigh also received calls of concern. For some parents the problem is the timing of the April day, which falls right around exam time for Grade 10s.
A district.-wide Pro D day is set for Feb. 19, during which teachers are to learn how to incorporate Aboriginal history into the curriculum.
Assistant superintendent Gordon Stewart said they weighed what days would be best and came up with the January and April dates.
“No one is happy about losing two days of instruction, but this is province-wide,” said Stewart, in response to Coburn’s suggestion that the time should be made up somewhere.