District delays staggered bell times vote

About a dozen district staff employees packed the Kalamalka High School library on Wednesday to find out if staggered bell times are in their future.

But they were left hanging after the school board decided to table the vote to the next board meeting on May 15.

Trustee Gen Acton put forward the motion so that the district could get more feedback from high school staff.

Trustee Jen Comazzetto agreed and said more consultation is needed.

” I do think based on the feedback we heard last time that there’s  a lot of people who feel that it was hidden in the transportation survey, so they may not of paid much attention to it as they would have, if they realized that it was in there, so I do agree with postponing it for the month, but I would like to get more information from the public on this,” she said.

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At the last public meeting on transportation, CUPE staff members argued that the proposal would have a huge impact on jobs .

They said that shifting the start time for high school students would lead to lost jobs in transportation, and seniority members losing out on crucial hours.

CUPE also said that the proposal would prevent some staff members from getting other jobs that are necessary in order to pay their bills.

” There’s going to be a significant impact on students, teachers in high schools, and CUPE members in high schools and the transportation department and once that decision is made we need to know what is going to happen to these employees as soon as possible,” said Boisvert.

The district’s transportation review committee made the suggestion after hearing that high school students have better learning outcomes if they started their day later.

They also say that staggered bell times would bring in $165,000 in savings.

To read more about the issue of staggered bell times click here.