For Immediate Release

April 22 2009

Start School Year After Labour Day: Bailey

Queen's Park-Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton took issue today with the Lambton-Kent District School Boards decision to start the 2009-2010 school year before Labour Day instead of the traditional start on the day following Labour Day.

"The Lambton-Kent District School Board should revisit this decision to start school prior to Labour Day", said Bailey.  "The Board had other options that they could have looked at to make sure that our students have the required number of educational days."

"Families have been able to count on their kids going back to school after Labour Day, and many of them make vacation plans right up until Labour Day Weekend.  This year, families who made vacation plans are faced with the decision of having to take kids out of school for that first week or cancel vacations", said Bailey.  "I don't think this decision is fair for families."

The proposed school calendar has been submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval. 

"I hope Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne will send the calendar back to the Lambton-Kent School Board and tell them it is unacceptable."

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For more information contact:

Bob Bailey, MPP