Reactions are mixed to the changes coming to some Collingwood schools’ bell times.
The Simcoe County District School Board recently approved a schedule change to bell times starting in September 2021 for some schools across Simcoe County to save money in the transportation budget. In Collingwood specifically, the change will see Collingwood Collegiate Institute students start at 8 a.m. and finish at 2:15 p.m., shifting the day to start and finish 45 minutes earlier than previously.
MacKenzie Robinson graduated from CCI in 2014. After completing a degree from Laurentian University in physical health and education, she is now in her final year of Brock University’s teaching program.
“From a former student perspective, to be completely honest I was surprised that it took this long,” said Robinson. “I have a brother going into Grade 9 next year and I laughed at first when I saw the news, thinking that will suck for him. Then I thought back to when I was in high school and how the other schools in my area had already implemented this, how more beneficial it was for those schools.”
“In my opinion, this is a good change with a lot of advantages,” she said.
Robinson says benefits to the change include that it will be easier for students to participate in extra-curricular activities while balancing schoolwork. She also says it will make it easier for students who want to hold down a part-time job after school to save up for post-secondary.
“As a student-athlete, I always felt rushed. I had practice usually from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., then would go home to eat dinner quickly, go to another activity (practice for another sport), would come home at 8 or 9 p.m. and have to shower and try to complete homework,” she said.
Willemien Schurer has two children who have graduated from CCI, and a son in Grade 6. As she lives near CCI, she says she believes a change in bus times will only add to the stress that may be affecting students.
“We live in the area of CCI and I see already how the pandemic has negatively affected teens. They are already super stressed. This will make it way worse,” said Schurer. “Research shows that teens need extra sleep to help with brain development.”
Schurer also believes this change could disproportionately impact students who come from low-income families.
“An early start time for middle- or upper-class kids (could) mean moms drive, but low-income kids need the bus,” she said. “(This) makes the divide even greater for the have-nots.”
In addition to the earlier start for CCI students, some elementary schools will be starting later with Admiral Collingwood Elementary School running from 9:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (+15 minutes), Cameron Street Public School running from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (+10 minutes), Connaught Public School running from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (+10 minutes) and Nottawa Public School running from 9:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. (+20 minutes).
Over the past few days, public school board trustee Tanya Snell has fielded a few calls from parents in regards to the changes. Snell represents Collingwood/Wasaga Beach schools at the Simcoe County District School Board table.
The school board budgets, however, will be saved by the (earlier) bell.
She says the Collingwood change will translate to $250,000 in savings annually for the public board.
“I don’t want to say students equal dollars. But at the same time, these are public tax dollars. If we can make a slight adjustment for the greater good, it moves us in-line with the rest of the high schools,” she said. “Every community has the same response when you change the buses. There’s an initial bomb that drops, but then people adjust.”
Snell told CollingwoodToday.ca she’s received about a half dozen emails from families expressing concerns on the time changes.
“Most of them seem to be the common concern of the earlier start time for the secondary panel and concern over sleep schedules... and how that could impact learning,” she said.
Snell reached out to the school board’s superintendent who oversees transportation to be able to provide clarification.
“This is something that’s been going on over the past few years throughout the board. Ultimately, it’s about efficiency and equity about delivery of services,” said Snell. “This change will align all of the secondary panel to be starting at the same time.”
This means that most of the secondary schools across the entire board will now all have a similar start time.
“With the high school, they’re coming from a larger geographical area. The elementary schools are more localized. So, buses will be able to be used to drop off high school students and then can be used again to be able to pick up an elementary group,” she said. “When you’re talking about such a significant financial savings overall year over year, it makes sense.”
Three other area routes will be changing and also affecting bell times in Midland, Alliston and Tottenham. Overall, the changes will amount to $742,500 in savings for the Simcoe County District School Board and $600,000 for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
“We always welcome feedback, but at this point, this is a done deal,” said Snell.
