Simcoe trustees vote on PA day change
Simcoe County District School Board trustees will consider moving a PA day that is in conflict with the Great Northern Exhibition’s education day.
Trustees will vote on a revised school year calendar Feb. 11. The revision would see a PA (profession activity) day scheduled for Sept. 25, moved to Oct. 23.
“I am fairly confident that this new revised calendar will be passed as all the concerned groups are satisfied. There were quite a few people who expressed concern about the September date so it is fantastic that we can all work together for the common good,” said Annie Chandler, trustee for Clearview and Collingwood.
“This year’s (2014-2015) PA day was Sept. 26 and it did not conflict with the GNE. At the time the proposed calendar went out, the board was not aware that there would be a conflict this year if they kept the PA day the same week.”
Chandler said the board has reviewed the calendar and all the feedback received and is now proposing that board of trustees approve a calendar that does not conflict with any fairs between September and Thanksgiving.
By pushing the PA day back to the end of October, the board would resolve conflicts with all area fall fairs, not just the GNE.
If the change is approved by trustees, it will still need final approval from the Ministry of Education.
On education day, the first day of the annual fair, Grade 3 and 7 students from elementary schools that feed into Stayner Collegiate Institute, Collingwood Collegiate Institute and Jean Vanier Catholic High School, in addition to area private schools, are invited to the fairgrounds for free, where they learn about agriculture as it ties into the curriculum.
Fair volunteer Gary Milne said the fair is always the third weekend after Labour Day.
Milne said if the PA day is not moved, fair organizers would have to cancel education day.
“The amount of volunteer hours that go into it for the handful of students that come, it’s not worthwhile,” said Milne. “I am very hopeful.”
In 2011, a PA day was scheduled in conflict with education day, resulting in low attendance. The next year, there was another conflict but there was enough lead-time to make a change.
Chandler said she would bring forward some type of plan aimed at avoiding conflicts with area fairs in the future.
For information visit Annie Chandler’s website trusteechandler.ca.
