Classes to start earlier for middle school students

By Megan Hoye
| 4:00 a.m. July 27, 2013

School Board member Andy Dance said the district's transportation department should have more thoroughly looked at other options than starting school earlier. Photo by Megan Hoye

Palm Coast Observer
News

Middle school students will be waking up earlier for class next year, due to a newly adapted bell schedule that starts first period 15 minutes earlier than the year before.

First period in middle schools will now start at 7:25 a.m. Students will be released at 1:25 p.m., also 15 minutes earlier than they were last year.

The bell schedule for high school students will not change. Schedules for elementary-aged students changed slightly and can be seen in the table below.

The schedule is meant to optimize the district’s bus schedule. Last year, students pooled for 20 minutes or more after school (requiring staff supervision) while they waited for the buses, staff from the district’s transportation department said during a Tuesday meeting of the Flagler County School Board. The new schedule is meant to be more efficient.

The School Board approved the new schedule in a 3-2 vote. Board member Colleen Conklin did not support the change because, she said, middle school students will not function as well that early in the morning. Board member Andy Dance said staff should have conducted a broader analysis of its bus routes or considered adding new buses.

Those in favor of the new schedule said it was the most efficient option, and referenced a recent string of budget cuts made across the district, saying that purchasing new buses was not feasible.

School	Bell times 2013-2014	Bell times 2012-2013
Middle schools	7:25 a.m. to 1:25 p.m.	7:40 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.
Phoenix Academy	7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.	7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.
High schools	8 a.m. to 2 p.m.	8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
I3 Tech Academy	8 a.m. to 2 p.m	N/A
Wadsworth Elementary School	8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.	8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Belle Terre Elementary School	8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.	9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Old Kings Elementary School	8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.	9:05 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
Rymfire Elementary School	9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.	9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Everest Alternative School	2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.	7:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.