School start times could be moved up by 10 to 15 minutes starting next school year. Based on feedback from teachers, principals and families, school district staff is proposing the changes. “Making these start/end time changes will ensure that all elementary students are picked up and dropped off during daylight hours,” a release from Seattle Public Schools said. The district also says the changes will also use 49 fewer buses with these proposed start times and reduce the transportation cost by $2.2 million. Here’s the breakdown (.pdf):
Adams Elem.: 9:15 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. (now 8:55 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.)
Ballard High: 8:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. (now 8:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.)
Loyal Heights Elem.: 9:05 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. (now 8:50 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.)
North Beach Elem.: 9:20 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (now 9:00 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.)
Salmon Bay: 9:05 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (now 8:55 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
West Woodland Elem.: 9:10 to 3:20 p.m. (now 9:10 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.)
Whitman Middle: 8:05 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. (now 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.)
Whittier Elem.: 9:25 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (now 9:05 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.)
Earlier, there was speculation that the start times could as late as 9:40 a.m., sparking a petition signed by nearly 700 parents. “This start time is nearly untenable for most working parents, who will be forced to either negotiate their own start times to 10 a.m. or later or find and pay for additional child care, an especially outrageous accommodation to demand in this economy,” the petition reads. The board will vote on the proposed times listed above on June 3rd.