Vancouver Sun

It’s time for the Vancouver board of education to restore five of the 10 instructional days it cut from the school calendar two years ago to save money, says the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE).

“These shorter weeks not only have a negative impact on learning outcomes, they also have a significant impact on poor families who need to scramble to find child care,” former school trustee Al Blakey said in a release.

Added Jane Bouey, another former COPE trustee: “Our plan would be to reduce the closures from 10 to a maximum of five days and have the school calendar revert to what it was before these additional days were removed from the instructional year.”

Though no salaries were cut, the board had hoped it would save about $1 million by adding 10 extra vacation days – five during spring break. …