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Calendar must be set May 1 3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 3, 2009 Continued from page 1 for 2009-10, despite potential obstacles created by the late Labour Day. However, public pressure placed on Education Minister Kathleen Wynne last month resulted in her sending a letter to school boards across Ontario asking them to consider starting classes after Labour Day. "It is another one of those where the Ministry did not give us direction... and once we did it, we got the response that we didn't get it right and here's how you should have done it," said Wayne Joudrie, director of education with the public board. "Boards of education to some extent are independent, but in other respects are also agents of the Ministry of Education." The Catholic board received about a dozen calls from parents unhappy with the first draft calendar. It was Wynne's letter that gave Catholic board staff the motivation to reexamine the issue. "We certainly respect Kathleen Wynne's direction and she's asked us to give serious consideration to begin after Labour Day, so that's why we determined to reconvene with our committee to look at that possibility," said Mary Tessari, superintendent of education, school services with the Catholic board. "I think that they (parents) understand, as Kathleen Wynne did indicate in her letter, that there is an impact on tourism in Ontario, as well as summer jobs for students, so I think they'll appreciate a revised calendar given those considerations." The problem surrounding this year's start date stems from the cal- endar year. Labour Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7, which leaves 192 school days by June 30, 2010. School boards are required by the Ministry of Education to identify a minimum 194 school days between September and the end of June, with 188 instructional days and no more than six professional activity days. Joudrie said that some school boards across the province, like York Catholic District School Board, is getting around the problem by scheduling two professional activity days and a board holiday before Labour Day weekend. This is also what the Halton Catholic board is proposing. The public board is expected to follow suit. "If you chew up two of the PA days before Labour Day, and then you have the interview day, assessment and evaluation day... it leaves you precious little for principals and their staff to sit face-to-face and do the work they need to do," Joudrie said. "This two (professional activity days) before the long weekend puts a huge dent (in the number of those days) and isn't something we're real happy with, but on the other hand, we feel obliged to respond or consider responding to the minister's appeal." Ward 4 Oakville trustee Kathryn Bateman-Olmstead agreed. "I'm well prepared to take heat of confusion and hopefully start school up after Labour Day weekend," she said. The school year calendar committees for both boards consist of various members, such as teachers' union representatives, school council chairs and board staff, among others. Public board Associate Director Ruth Peden has previously said that the committee will take their time to find an alternate solution. Ontario school boards are not required to submit their proposed school calendars to the Ministry of Education until May 1. The two boards worked together on the previously-approved school year calendar and are expected to do the same again this time around. Transportation is a key factor behind this due to shared bussing. The public board estimates that for each day it is out of alignment with the Catholic board, transportation costs are about $35,000. The public board also passed a motion Wednesday night that will see the director of education contact the Ministry of Education about early dismissal days on the last days before Christmas and summer holidays, when students are usually sent home around 2 p.m. The motion was introduced by Gillian Tuck Kutarna, trustee for Wards 3 and 4 Halton Hills, who argued that early dismissal days are inconvenient for parents, particularly for childcare and transportation arrangements. Joudrie said he expects a prompt, definitive response from the Ministry of Education whether early dismissal days comply with the Education Act. If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 905-845-3824. Hearing aid not doing its job? · Unable to use the phone with hearing aids? · Hollow-sounding or echoing voices? · Not hearing voices well in noise? · Too much whistling? No matter where you purchased your hearing aid, we will test it to see if it is giving you the best sound possible. 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