PCSSD proposes changes to start times for next year

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (PCCSD) -- The Pulaski County Special School District is considering changing the start times of schools beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

District spokesperson Deborah Roush said the district is making the announcement early to allow for feedback, and so parents, child care providers and the community have time to make scheduling arrangements.

Roush said since the district is under the oversight of the Arkansas Department of Education after being placed in fiscal distress, and ADE Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell acts in place of a district board of education, notification of a possible schedule change was placed on the January agenda that he reviews in lieu of a board meeting.

Roush said the district is proposing reversing the start times of its elementary and secondary schools. "Currently, we have our middle- and high-school students starting early, with a later bell time for our elementary students. Because secondary students have a longer day, this causes both elementary and secondary to release the same time. Next school year our elementary students would start early and end early, which would allow a staggered release.

"The staggered release allows for use of fewer buses, creates efficiency and saves the district money," she said.

For the most part, elementary schools would start between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. next school year, with secondary schools beginning between 8:10 a.m. and 8:35 a.m. Dismissal times for elementary would range from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., and dismissal for secondary would range from 3:30 p.m. to 3:55 p.m.

The change would mean that next year parents of younger students - who will have an earlier start time - could see their students off on the bus or drop them off at school on the way to work. "Typically, older students can wait for the bus if their parents head out for work and many drive themselves. That is not possible for our elementary parents when school starts after 8 a.m.," Roush said.

"The district considered many factors before making the proposal," she said. "Part of that included the fact that there is a trend in research indicating that perhaps allowing high school students more sleep in the morning helps them perform better in the classroom."

Roush said that any time a change is made to families' schedules it can create concern. "If this change is made, it will affect each PCSSD family differently. We know some would celebrate this news and for others it will mean the need to make scheduling changes. That's why it was critical to begin discussions about this as soon as possible," Roush said.

Roush said parents with questions or comments may contact the district at 501-234-2038 or access the website at www.pcssd.org, where there is a contact form for reaching the district.

The proposed changes for each school are as follows:

PROPOSED CHANGE (2012-2013)

CURRENT SCHEDULE (2011-2012)

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 7:20-2:20 Adkins Pre-K   7:45 - 2:30 •      Pinewood •      Landmark •      Bayou Meto •      Sylvan Hills •      Taylor   7:50 - 2:35 Harris  Oak Grove  Pine Forest Robinson Clinton Magnet Crystal Hill Magnet   7:55 - 2:40 Cato Lawson Tolleson Bates   8:00 - 2:45 Baker Chenal Dupree Sherwood Oakbrooke Arnold Drive   8:10 - 2:55 Scott   8:15 - 3:00 College Station   SECONDARY SCHOOLS   8:10 - 3:30 Robinson Middle Learning Academy   8:20 - 3:40 Robinson High Jacksonville Middle Northwood   8:25 - 3:45 Sylvan Hills High   8:30 - 3:50 Fuller North Pulaski Maumelle Middle Sylvan Hills Middle   8:35 - 3:55 Mills Jacksonville High Maumelle High

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS   7:20 - 2:20 Adkins Pre-K   8:15 - 3:00 College Station   8:25 - 3:10 Pinewood Taylor Landmark  Clinton Magnet  Crystal Hill Magnet  Harris Oak Grove  Arnold Drive  Pine Forest  Robinson  Sherwood  Bates  Lawson  Tolleson Scott  Baker  Chenal Oakbrooke Dupree  Cato   (8:30) Bayou Meto   (8:30) Sylvan Hills     SECONDARY SCHOOLS   7:30 - 2:50   Jacksonville Middle Northwood Robinson Middle Learning Academy Fuller Robinson High Sylvan Hills High Maumelle Middle   7:35 - 2:55 Maumelle High Sylvan Hills Middle     7:40 - 3:00   Mills North Pulaski   7:45 - 3:05   Jacksonville High

(Copyright 2011 Pulaski County Special School District)