District weighs three new school bell schedules

What happened

The district is considering three bell schedules that would change which grade levels start first and when students begin school next year. The options place elementary starts at 7:40 a.m. or 9 a.m., and high-school starts at 7:30, 8:35 or 9 a.m.; families and staff are expected to give input before a recommendation goes to the board Dec. 14.

Why it matters to families

The eventual schedule will affect students’ daily routines, bus pickup times and family childcare arrangements across the district; the board had not selected or approved an option at this meeting.

The evidence

The transportation and bell-schedule coalition narrowed 14 scenarios to three for campus visits, community input meetings Nov. 16–17 and a family/staff survey. One option starts high school at 7:30 a.m. and elementary at 9; another starts elementary at 7:40 and high school at 9; a third starts elementary at 7:40 and high school at 8:35. The district estimated that two options would require six additional bus routes, about $300,000 annually, while the other would use one fewer route; the final recommendation was planned for the Dec. 14 board meeting.

The source