Richmond public school students will see the schedule of their annual spring break change next year.
A staff recommendation presented to the board of education Monday has the starting date for the district's two-week break changed to Friday, March 15, 2013, with a return day of Tuesday, April 2. The schedule was made as such because the Good Friday and Easter Monday statutory holidays fall within the spring break.
This year, the spring break started earlier, on Monday, March 12, and ended on Friday, March 23.
Assistant superintendent Wendy Lim told the News the new schedule falls in line with most other districts, allowing Richmond students to take part in the same community activities as other students.
This was the second year of the Richmond district's two-week break, joining many other school districts which have extended their spring holidays from one week to two in a cost cutting move. At the time it was approved in 2010, it was reported the Richmond district would save about $185,000 annually.
Lim noted the extended break is also about improving the wellness of students and staff.
When the board approved the two-week break, Al Klassen, president of the Richmond School Teachers Association, said teachers were in favour of the move
Students and teachers in Richmond spend an extra eight minutes a day in class, and as a result they now get two weeks off instead of one.
