The Burnaby school district is moving ahead with a plan to add an extra block to schedules at four of its high schools to address overcrowding.
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Alpha Secondary, Burnaby Central Secondary, Burnaby Mountain Secondary and Moscrop Secondary will all be moving to five-block schedules, according to a news release Wednesday.
The change is expected to add 10 per cent more capacity at those schools, the release said.
Superintendent Karim Hachlaf said the district "carefully considered" the change and is mindful of the impact it will have on students, family and staff.
"While not an easy decision, it is a necessary one," he said in the release. "We have a responsibility to find an immediate way to accommodate both the students we have now, and the new ones expected next year."
Students will still attend four blocks of classes.
What will change, according to the district, is that a fifth block will be available for scheduling starting in September 2025.
"This new way of structuring the school day staggers when students are in the building and is needed to address enrolment growth," stated the release.
The district completed a space analysis at five of its high schools to determine how projected enrolment growth could fit in their existing space.
After analyzing the data, the district decided to move forward at four schools.
No changes are planned for the fifth school, Burnaby North Secondary.
"Further measures are able to be taken there for the next school year to manage existing space in a way that accommodates anticipated growth without having to move to a five-block day," stated the release.
Parents at the four high schools were notified about the impending change in a letter Wednesday afternoon.
Parents at Burnaby North were also notified that changes will not be going ahead there.
Along with its news release, the district published a frequently asked questions page Wednesday.
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