The Burnaby School District says it is moving ahead with staggered start times at four high schools to address overcrowding.
Capacity issues due to the rising student population have been an issue in Surrey schools, and now the problem has surfaced in Burnaby.
In an email to parents last month, the Burnaby School District said increased enrollment had caused them to consider the change.
In a statement Wednesday, the district confirmed it would be moving ahead with adding a block to its daily schedule. It says the change is expected to create roughly 10 per cent more capacity for students.
Superintendent Karim Hachlaf says the district carefully considered the decision and analyzed space availability and future growth projections before making it official.
“While not an easy decision, it is a necessary one. We have a responsibility to find an immediate way to accommodate both the students we have now, and the new ones expected next year,” said Hachlaf.
“This strategy of adding five-block scheduling options ensures that youth not only have a place to go to school, but also have continued educational quality and class choice.”
Alpha, Burnaby Central, Burnaby Mountain, and Moscrop secondary schools will all move to a five-block schedule. The school district says no changes are planned for Burnaby North Secondary School, which was also considered in the analysis.
The changes will be implemented in September next year.
—With files from Cecilia Hua