The Department of Education’s plans to extend the school day for kindergarten to Grade 2 students in New Brunswick have sparked concerns among middle and high school parents. Parents like Amanda Saulnier and Miek Gall express worries about the ripple effects on schedules, transportation, and extracurricular activities. The later start and end times for middle schools will make it challenging for working parents to drop off their children and may impact after-school programs like Sistema. While the department aims to align the younger grades with higher ones, parents question whether the benefits outweigh the challenges for older students. The Anglophone West School District acknowledges bus driver shortages and is finalizing schedules, but parents await more information on how to navigate the changes.