Schools

Single Elementary Start Time in Oswego 308 Unanimously Approved

There is a possibility that times may change for the following school year with a switch between secondary and elementary schools.

8:45 a.m. will officially be the new start time for all elementary students across District 308 for the 2013-14 school year.

The school board unanimously approved the single start time after a brief discussion.

Despite that many expressed interest on the Oswego Patch about an earlier start time, no one spoke during public comment on the issue.

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However, the 8:45 a.m. start time may not remain for the following school year.

Board president Bill Walsh asked if there was a possibility that the times could change again, and Superintendent Dr. Matt Wendt said there was.

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“There have been healthy conversations in our district about starting elementary earlier in the day, and whether to keep high school and junior highs at the same time, or flip-flopping for secondary and elementary,” said Wendt.

“We know a second grader’s brain is wired differently than a 17-year old at 7:30 a.m. in the morning.”

Board member Mike McDowell asked that if there was the chance that times would be flip-flopping in a year, why switch now?

“I would not want to inform our faculty and all our parents we’re going to flip the entire system before the next 75 days,” said Wendt. “I wouldn’t want to do that without having a conversation.”

He also mentioned the district is considering the idea of a late start one day a week, and that they were not yet ready to discuss that today.

“We need a calendar for this in January or February next year” said Wendt. The discussion of start times for next year he hopes will take place in December rather than May and June like this time.

Elementary buildings will open at 8:15 a.m. for breakfast eaters and any students that parents want to drop off earlier. “It’s a customer service to parents as well,” said Wendt of the early building open.

Buses will drop students off at 8:30 a.m. and classes will begin at 8:45 a.m. across the district. Following a 6 hour and 50 minute day, school will end at 3:35 p.m.


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