Update: SD62 Supt. Jim Cambridge tells CTV News that the calendar proposing a Sept. 1 start to the 2016-2017 school year was in error. He says the school district intends to start classes after Labour Day, and is trying to get the current proposed calendar taken down off the website.

Original Story: In a proposal likely to be unpopular with students, a Vancouver Island school district is floating the idea of starting its school year before Labour Day.

A draft calendar put forward by School District 62, which encompasses Sooke and surrounding areas, has the first instructional day of the 2016-2017 school year starting on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Most schools in the province wait until after Labour Day, the first Monday in September, to kick off the school year.

The district is seeking feedback on the calendar proposal, and parents and other community stakeholders have until March 29 to weigh in on the district’s website.

But schools in the district closed for spring break Monday, with classes returning on Wed., March 30 – the day after the deadline to weigh in.

Some parents say SD62 hasn’t effectively communicated the proposed changes to them or given them enough time to respond.

Melissa Da Silva says she only found out because she follows SD62 on Facebook.

With the feedback period ending before spring break ends, she says many parents could remain in the dark until it’s too late.

“My worry is that a lot of families aren’t going to know about it and have already made plans for camping or whatever they do on that long weekend” she said. “I don’t think it’s ample notice…It would be in their best interest to extend the feedback period beyond spring break.”

As for school starting before Labour Day, Da Silva’s family isn’t keen on the idea because they’ve already made plans for Labour Day long weekend.

“It’s usually our last big long weekend before school starts, so for us, we like to plan fun activities we can do with the kids before school goes back,” she said. “If this goes through we won’t be able to do that, unfortunately.”

She said other parents she’s talked to aren’t thrilled with proposal either.

“Most are just caught off-guard,” she said. “The one’s I’ve spoken to are a little bit miffed.”

Parents wanting to provide feedback on the calendar proposal can visit the district’s website.