Parents wonder why CBE has not approved use of lockers

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Students are lugging heavy backpacks to and from school as the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) has yet to allow kids to use their lockers.

This has upset many parents who say their kids are carrying too much on their way to and from school.

Natasha Ma has a son in grade 7 and said he’s often hauling up to 20 pounds in his backpack.

“I would say it’s pretty uncomfortable, especially walking to school. It’s about a 10-minute walk. My daughter is in grade 5 and she is bringing indoor shoes that she has to carry with her.”

Alberta Health Services (AHS) originally banned the use of lockers over concerns of crowding but recently released new guidelines for locker use.

The CBE has yet to implement those new rules.

Ma understands the concerns at the beginning of the pandemic but feels there’s been enough time for adjustments.

“I think everyone has come around to knowing what to do and what not to do. From what I understand, AHS has approved the use of lockers but CBE for some reason has not. I’m not sure what is the holdup because we know we need it.”

In a statement sent to 660 NEWS, the CBE said it is reviewing the new guidelines in the context of its school system.

“Any decision made to change our current practice must consider each school’s individual context and ability to maintain safety measures,” the statement reads.

“This includes the differences in layout of each individual CBE school building, school enrolment numbers, the number, and size of lockers, student traffic flow patterns, etc.”

Meanwhile, the Calgary Catholic School Division (CCSD) said lockers are allowed to be used but it is up to individual schools to implement the rules.

The district said it is not keeping tabs on which schools are allowing the lockers.

–with files from CityNews