The Wake County school system is looking for public feedback on the proposed bell schedule changes for the 2013-14 school year.
Parent can go here to view the proposal and here to provide online feedback. The school board wants feedback before the March 19 vote.
During Tuesday's school board meeting, Bob Snidemiller, senior director of transportation, said they left 91 percent of schools unchanged to provide consistency. He said they're proposing changes at 15 schools to promote transportation efficiency.
Snidemiller said most of the changes were minor and designed to simply get buses to school on time.
Snidemiller focused his presentation on the five schools whose schedules would shift by 30 or more minutes.
Apex Elementary would shift from a 9:05 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. schedule to a 8:30 a.m. to a 3 p.m. schedule. Snidemiller said the school's principal "loves" the change.
David Drive Middle would move from a 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. schedule to a 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. time. Snidemiller said the principal supports the change.
Green Elementary would go from an 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule to a 7:40 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. time. Snidemiller said that's being done so that students from Green and Carroll Middle, which would be its feeder school, can ride together.
Lufkin Road Middle would move from an 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule to a 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. time.
Snidemiller said Lufkin's principal is okay with the change but raised concerns about how it could impact families who also have kids at Apex High, which would be on the same tier. Snidemiller said that's something that happens at other schools too.
Vandora Springs Elementary would go from a 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. schedule to an 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift. Snidemiller said the principal is "very happy" with the change.
Board member Christine Kushner asked why Southeast Raleigh High's schedule is being shifted 10 minutes earlier to start at 7:25 a.m.
Staff explained that as part of the magnet school realignment, they now will have Moore Square Middle students riding with Enloe High instead of with Southeast Raleigh. This means Moore Square will start and end five minutes earlier and Enloe will end five minutes later while keeping the same start time.
This means the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Wake Young Women's Leaedrship Academy will no longer be partnered with Enloe for bus service. They'll be matched up instead with Southeast Raleigh High.
Comments
I like the present FWES bell schedule...PLEASE KEEP 9:15 TO 3:45
Sat, 03/09/2013 - 14:39 — ksmithdvmThe later schedule works better for my children who take an express bus. Our bus pick up time was 7:15 on the old schedule, which was very difficult. I understand where both sides are coming from.
FWES Keep the current schedule - 9:15 to 3:45
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 10:57 — MaryJaneDoeI feel the current schedule is the most appropriate for children in elementary school. Many parents are complaining of after school activities having to be forgone and what not, but I believe they're all forgetting that these children are young and their sleep pattern should be what's most important. Having the 9:15 start time gives the kids a little extra time in the morning to 1. sleep later 2. have breakfast (with their families hopefully) 3. Not feel rushed/stressed. In terms of after school activities - these kids are still young and I would be willing to bet that some of them may just want to sit and relax for a hour before they're rushed off to some activity their parents more than likely forced them into. That's why they're cranky, tired and don't want to do homework - they're schedules are jam packed.
Additionally, for working parents changing the schedule every year can make it very difficult to arrange for a modified work schedule and before and after school care.
As for stay at home moms and dads - I'm sorry if this is harsh - but you're a stay at home mom or dad you shouldn't be commenting at all - 15, 20, 30 minutes really shouldn't matter to you - you're tennis match can wait.
For younger kids is is
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 17:07 — mom_of_3For younger kids it is better for them to get up and going and go to bed early. Reports have shown this in the past!
As a working mom the new schedule has cut into my work schedule! If they will make up their minds on the schedule & stop mucking about then we working parents will have a reasonable amount of time to arrange our work schedule.
Personally then I would not have to do before and after school care!!!!
The dig at stay at home parents is wrong! If you don't walk in those shoes you should stick to what you know!!!!
You all do realize this board isn't listening
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 17:12 — FSandYOUdon't you? This is part of their usual agenda, let the few who will bother to show up and complain have their say, then do what they want anyway. You'll be lucky to see 2 maybe 3 of these schools not change.
As for your obvious disdain towards stay at home parents, don't blame them for your short comings. If you can't be there for your child, I'm sure that daycare or 'Y' worker will teach them everything you want them to know about life.
But make no mistake, stay at home parents get just as much of a say as you hard working, I can't change my schedule for Jr. parents.
Sorry if that was a tad harsh MJD.
?
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 12:30 — Bob_SconceI was under the impression that studies showed that elementary age kids would be fine getting up earlier, but that the early start times for high school was really hurting their ability to learn.
The crack on stay-at-home moms as if they were spending their time playing tennis is absurd.
I have to disagree. My 6th
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 11:18 — CaryMomof4I have to disagree. My 6th grader catches the bus at 6:30. The buses no longer come in to the neighborhood and I don't think it's safe for an 11 year old to stand alone in the dark almost a half mile from home outside the neighborhood. Nor do I think its appropriate for 5 and 7 year olds to be left alone at home at that hour. So they're up at 6:30 to take big sis to the bus. But they have nearly 3 hours before they start school. By the time they get to school they're well in to their day. By the time the bus gets home at 5:00 they're exhausted. I wish our school would go back to 8:30 start to keep the kids schedules closer together. I don't get home from work until after 5:00, so it's not about after school activities. They're up early in the morning - I wish they could go ahead and go to school while they're alert and ready instead of staying late into the afternoon when they're drained.
Same here
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 22:10 — RWTMiddle schoolers have to be at school by 7:30, and their bus picks up at 6:15 half a mile away along a collector street. Not a good situation for them at all, considering that one has autism. It's not like I could send them to go stand out there alone! I usually drive them so they can get the extra sleep.
It's a good thing my elementary kids are natural early risers. We just liked it so much better when we could just go to the playground at 7:50 and have the entry bell ring at 8:00. Now we pass by the elementary school a full hour before they can even go inside. In the afternoon when I collect the middle schoolers, we pass the elementary school over an hour before it dismisses.
And snide person who hates stay at home parents, I hope your child never needs tutoring at school, because that's what i do with my time. Because of volunteer help, dozens of at-risk kids at our school improved their academic performance.
We have to same situation!
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 17:12 — mom_of_3We have to same situation! You are correct about them being drained! I hate being held hostage by school!
FWES bell schedule
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 14:04 — kma125@yahoo.comDoes anyone know who changed the schedule or why the bell schedule was changed?
Support Apex Elementary Bell Schedule Change
Wed, 03/06/2013 - 23:07 — apexdad2100The Apex Elementary change is returning our school to the schedule we had before this year. We have suffered huge busing problems all year due to the amended schedule, I am really glad to see it will return.
Farmington woods bell schedule
Wed, 03/06/2013 - 22:52 — Kma125As a working mother it is very hard to change a work schedule every time the bell schedule changes. Having before/after school is just an added expense. Students are currently dismissed at 3:45 to the concerned parent who commented how will 15 minutes give students so much extra time?! I am more concerned at how early student will have to get ready for school, eat a good breakfast and if applicable catch the bus.
Our schedule.
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 07:16 — RWTThe earlier poster misstated. We were dismissed at 3:00, not 3:30, and had been for at least a decade.
The change was hard for all of us. Another change will be difficult, but think of everyone who chose the school thinking it would start at 8:30, not 9:15. A lot of us had to change our plans.
Ok yes a 3pm dismissal would
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 09:48 — Kma125Ok yes a 3pm dismissal would be much better! Thank you for clarifying, I was wondering how those hours added up.
Support Davis Drive Middle School Bell Schedule Change
Wed, 03/06/2013 - 22:51 — aantonescuI totally support the Davis Drive Middle Bell Schedule Change. The current bell schedule is too early and does not allow the children to be able to participate in after school activities and still get a good night's sleep before a very early start to the day. It is dark when the children have to travel to school and as a result the carpool line is longer than necessary with parents who won't send their child to school walking or by bus in the dark. The later start time will alleviate the carpool which is insane!
Farmington Woods Bell Schedule
Wed, 03/06/2013 - 15:01 — crussell2005I along with many parents would like the Farmington Woods Elementary School bell schedule to go back to what it was before: 8:30am - 3:30pm. The schedule this year does not let students get home in time for homework, dinner and chores and to get them to bed at a reasonable hour. In additional it severely limits their availability for other activities outside school. Please change our schedule back to 8:30am - 3:30pm. Thanks
We have had the same
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 17:15 — mom_of_3We have had the same problems with other activities outside school. Doctor appointments are a problems too! We have to take them out of school and they loose in class time.
Yes, please change it back!
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 07:12 — RWTRemember, though, we were dismissed at 3:00, not 3:30. ;)
This schedule change still presents problems for us. The extra 45 minutes make a huge difference. Now our evenings are stressed and compacted. The children are exhausted by the time we get home. We had to cancel long-standing activities that began at 3:30. I have difficulty scheduling appointments for the children after school because all of the area schools dismiss at the same time. The extra time in the morning is wasted time IMHO. They would be better off at school.
All the teachers and administrators I have talked to pretty much hate the new schedule. It impacts their family lives, too.
Part of the reason we applied to FWES eight years ago was because our assigned school started at 9:15. We feel that the late schedule is developmentally inappropriate, whereas our middle schoolers would LOVE being on a later schedule.
I know that people who use before and or after school care (or school bus daycare) are thrilled because the schedule matches a traditional workday better. However, it stinks for families who have a non-traditional schedule (think second shift nurses) or a stay-at-home parent.
not everyone gets what they want
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 16:40 — EBDarcyI am sure you didn't mean to sound insensitive, but thousands of families are on the 9:15 - 3:45 bell schedule. We were, and I totally agree that it doesn't make sense developmentally. As for afterschool activities and appointments, tired kids, etc., you deal with it.
As for parents who use before and afterschool care being thrilled, I think you will meet many people who are spending extra money because of this schedule and not happy about it.
More public comment on bell schedules?
Wed, 03/06/2013 - 14:10 — FSandYOUHmmmmm, wonder #1 how many will bother and #2 what those who do will say?
More importantly, I wonder how Evans and Martin will respond to more unhappy parents.