Public Input Wanted on School Bell Times (VIDEO)
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) officials are once again examining school start and end times and they want to know what you think. MCPS-TV has the story.
The Board of Education will hold two public hearings on bell times, both on Thursday, January 22 in the auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The first hearing will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the second will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Those wishing to testify should call 301.279.3617 to reserve a spot. All speakers will have three minutes.
Written feedback can be sent via email to belltimes@mcpsmd.org and should be submitted before the close of business on Monday, February 2.
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As a teacher and parent of MCPS I would either like to see the bell system stay the same or to have all levels start later. I disagree with beginning elementary before high school and middle. As a primary teacher, many of my students already come to school tired after staying up much later than they should. I can only predict that this would magnify with an earlier start time. Also, many elementary school students walk to school and it would not be safe for them to walk and cross in the dark. We can not guarantee that their parents would be available with an earlier start time. A start time of 7:30 would negatively impact work and daycare schedules of teachers and parents. Many MCPS teachers live in Frederick County and an earlier start time would impact their ability to safely get their own children to school or would add an expense of before care.