The Department of Education in New Brunswick’s decision to extend the school day for students in kindergarten to Grade 2 has raised concerns among parents of middle and high school students. The change, effective this fall, aims to align the younger grades with Grades 3 to 8. However, parents like Amanda Saulnier and Miek Gall express concerns about the knock-on effects on schedules, transportation, and extracurricular activities.
Amanda Saulnier, whose children attend Devon Middle School in Fredericton, received an email informing parents that the school day will begin at 9:15 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m. due to transportation adjustments. This means that students must be dropped off no earlier than 8:45 a.m., creating challenges for working parents. Additionally, the Anglophone West School District has been struggling with a bus driver shortage, raising further concerns about reliability and supervision for students.
Miek Gall, whose children attend Bliss Carman and George Street Schools, is also concerned about the later drop-off time. His shift begins at 8:30 a.m., while the start time for both middle schools is around 9:20 a.m. He emphasizes the importance of supervised drop-offs and expresses doubt about being able to accommodate the new schedule without upsetting his employer or leaving his children unsupervised.
Parents like Saulnier and Gall also worry about the impact on after-school programs. Their children participate in Sistema, a free music program that runs until 5 p.m. The later dismissal time will likely result in students missing an hour of instruction. Kenn Mainville, CEO of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, which runs Sistema, says they are assessing how the schedule changes will affect the program.
The Department of Education has not granted interviews to discuss the concerns raised by parents. A spokesperson has directed questions to the school districts. The Anglophone West School District is still finalizing bell and bus schedules and has not yet provided specific information to families. Parents await further clarification and solutions to address the concerns raised by the extended school day for younger students.
