This Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at 9:30 AM, Mr. Eric Ciotti, Deputy, President of the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes, and Honoré Colomas, Vice-President of the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes, Mayor of Saint-André-de-la-Roche, Vice-President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, President of the Association of Mayors of Alpes-Maritimes, will hold a press conference on the reform of school rhythms and its consequences on departmental school transport.
Naturally, this de facto opposition to the implementation of this decree will be explained and justified. In reality, it is a political opposition, as has already been announced by the Deputy Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi.
But in all this, has anyone really taken into account the rights of the true beneficiaries, the schoolchildren? No, because everyone is more focused on the political fight, as goes the electoral life, right and left combined.
On January 24 last, the government, by decree, rearranged the organization of school time in nursery and elementary schools.
The text provides for the implementation of a school week of 24 hours spread over 9 half-days of teaching, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and on Wednesday morning, with a maximum of five and a half hours per day and a maximum of three and a half hours per half-day.
This decree comes into effect, in principle, at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.
However, until March 31 next, municipalities can request a postponement to the 2014-2015 school year from the academic director of the national education services. In this case, the mayor or the president of the Public Establishment for Intercommunal Cooperation must approach the competent General Council regarding the organization and financing of school transport.
Many mayors have expressed strong concerns, faced with the material and financial difficulty of implementing this reform at a forced march.
A study by the General Council has also been conducted to assess the consequences of this decree in terms of the organization and financing of school transport.
In any case, the General Council will welcome any request for deferral to the 2014 start of the school year.
