After months of discussions, speculation, meetings and a parent survey, the Howe Sound school board announced Monday (Sept. 17) that it is proposing to move Spring Break to occur during the 2010 Olympic Games. In addition, the board is proposing to close secondary schools in Squamish for the week of Feb. 15 to 19 to coincide with the first week of the Olympics.
"The world is coming to our doorstep," says board chair, Dave Walden. "It makes sense to change the school calendar to take advantage of the educational opportunities such an event provides for our students."
While the proposed dates are finally out on the table, several corridor parents had a long list of questions about childcare during the closure, the potential for Olympic involvement for students, and how lost time will be made up.
"I think the thing that troubles parents most is all the unanswered questions," said Cathy Jewett, chair of the District Parent Advisory Council (PAC).
"We want to know what's going on. We have to be sure that our kids are going to be looked after."
The top question on most parents' minds seems to be what to do with their children for two and three weeks while the schools are closed. Jewett said some employers in the corridor are already telling staff that they won't be able to take time off during the Olympics, leaving working parents scrambling to organize daycare or other care arrangements.
"What about single-parent families?" she asked.
Dr. Rick Erickson, superintendent of schools for the Howe Sound District, said Tuesday (Sept. 18) that figuring out how to support parents in caring for kids during school closures is part of the planning.
"Those details are yet to be worked out," he said.
However, there are informal talks underway about lowering the required age for Olympic volunteers from age 19 to 15 to give older students a chance to be part of the Games in a volunteer capacity, Erickson said.
For other students having schools closed is an "opportunity to be in the centre of a major world event, to see what the happenings are and perhaps attend some of the events."
Erickson stressed that the two- and three-week closures are still a proposal and that parents will have the opportunity for more feedback before the school board meets again on Oct. 10 and revisits the topic.
With the 2009-10 school year still two years away, any decisions will be subject to change, he said.
