Though school is out for teachers and students, the School Board and other staff continue to work through the summer months to prepare for the next school year. One of the changes proposed at the 05/30/17 workshop was of interest to students: approval of the bell schedule.
Students shouldn’t get too excited, though. Elementary times are not changing, and the start times for middle and high schools are not much later.
Ralph Leath, Director of Transportation, discussed the results of the Bell Time Selection Committee. The committee included principals, assistant principals, transportation staff, and the Executive Director of Support Operations, Sean Arnold.
While Leath stated he did not believe there would be an increase in the number of bus routes based on student population, that will be reexamined later in the summer. The later start times represent a cost savings to the transportation department of up to $20,000 for this coming year.
One of the reasons for the change in the K-8 schools is to align them with the middle school schedule, Leath said. The plan is to allow the students in K-8 schools the same amount of classroom instruction time (except for Parrott, which asked for a later start time).
The School Board unanimously gave tentative approval for the schedule, with Chairperson Beth Narverud joking that they should not tell the students, which could solve the issues with tardies!
