Public Comment for April 9th Meeting

[Virginia Grant]

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in regard to the proposed schedule options for elementary schools in 2024-25. The board packet for this week's meeting includes a new option in which the elementary schools begin at 8:00 am and end at 2:30 pm. This is better than the original proposal (particularly because it shortens the elementary school day, which I strongly support), but it is still problematic.

A good solution would be to push all the schedules back even more. The elementary school could start at 8:15 or 8:30, and the other schools after that, with the high school beginning around 9:00. That solves a lot of problems. It would allow for a later release time for elementary schools while still giving the youngest children the least amount of time at school that is allowed each day.

For example, elementary school could be from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, and the other schools could be tiered after those times. These aren't huge changes, and they are likely to work better for the students and their families than the proposed schedules. This would allow for shorter elementary school days, and it would help avoid sleep deprivation for all the students, including the youngest ones who need the most sleep.

I am in support of a later start and release time for the elementary schools, along with the shortest school day possible. If half days on Wednesdays are no longer possible, that is the best solution available.

Thank you,

Virginia Grant