June 8, 2010 ~ In a controversial move designed to save money and increase busing efficiency, the Muscogee County School District is changing school start and end times for the 2010-2011 school year.
Beginning in August, the new times will be:
- Elementary students ~ 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
- Middle school students ~ 9 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.
- High school students ~ 8:35 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.
Jordan and Spencer High students will operate on an extended-day program and attend school from 7:40 to 3:25 p.m. The schools must add 45 minutes to their school day as a condition of a $25 million federal school improvement grant.
The schedule changes will save the district about $346,000, as well as the cost of an additional 22 drivers and buses next year, about $2.7 million.
The board has discussed the school schedule numerous times in public, eliciting complaints from parents and teachers who worried how the changes would impact extracurricular activities and athletics.
[Source: Ledger-Enquirer.com]
