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Something doesn’t add up in school math

Editor:

While I applaud the Langley School Board for trying to find unique ways to solve the budget problem, I think they should have used grade 4 math skills to calculate the cost for our children.

Here are the numbers, gathered from the district office and local papers.

Number of students in Langley district as of the end of March (not including international students): 18,550.

Potential dollars to be saved with the calendar adjustment: $225,000.

Calculate the savings per student and it "potentially" adds up to $12.12 per student, or $2.02 per day.

My child, who will be in grade 11 next year, will have 10 minutes added onto his day.  With four classes per day, he will have 2.5 minutes (150 seconds) more time spent in each class. I say “time” as even the best teacher is challenged to teach a new concept in 150 seconds.

There is no doubt that cuts have to be made somewhere but is this really the best way? The simple math doesn’t seem to add up to me. Perhaps with the extra 150 seconds in math class, my son will be able to calculate a way for it to make sense.

Rhonda Bencze, Langley