News Release

Students' Education Suffering Due to Split-Shift Policy

(Thursday, May 23, 2002)-- District 21 Councillor Len Goucher called today for an end to the split-shift class arrangements at C.P. Allen High School in Bedford.

Councillor Goucher said students who regularly attend C.P. Allen, and those from Sir John A. MacDonald High School in Five Island Lake who were temporarily transferred there due to environmental problems at their own school, are not receiving the basic minimum hours of instruction as set down by the Province.

The Councillor said "Split-shifts are simply unacceptable to both school communities. They impact on entire families and on the community. Some students who are bused are picked up as early as 6 a.m. and this has caused stress, sleep deprivation and other disorders, which often prevent these students from getting a reasonable opportunity to learn and to meet provincial examination standards."

C.P. Allen has been on split shifts since March. Bedford students attend classes from 7 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. The students from Sir John A MacDonald attend classes from 1 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Councillor Goucher is working with Bedford-Fall River MLA, the Honourable Peter Christie; the Charles P. Allen Action Committee; the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Halifax Regional School Board to find other options to the split-shift arrangements.

The Councillor urged parents of students from both C.P. Allen and Sir John A. MacDonald to contact their Regional School Board member and voice their opposition to the split-shift policy.

- 30-

Councillor Len Goucher
(902) 476-0021