This school year 20 extra minutes have been added on to the student day. Instead of starting at 7:50 am like previous years and ending at 2:30 pm, the school board decided to start the day ten minutes earlier at 7:40 am, and end the student day at 2:40 pm. There are all sorts of different opinions on the added extra 20 minutes.
“Not a whole lot of changes, having a full 40 minutes gives the staff more time,” Middle school principal, Mr. Jeff Griffith said. The reason the district added on to the school day “for more instruction time” says Mr. Griffith, “I don’t really have a opinion, its good either way.” He also says “Overall the added 20 minutes have been good for our school.”
“I like it and I don’t like it, everyone gets restless at the end of the day.” Another staff member, 6th grade math teacher, Mrs. Ashley Spencer, said.
“If I am being honest I don’t really see a difference,” Mrs. Post, a 7th grade math teacher, said
As we asked more students and staff what their opinions were, some did not like the fact that they had to come earlier and stay later and others did not see much of a difference.
Why does she not like staying later and coming earlier, “Its longer, and takes up the time I have to do my things.” Sixth grade student Jerah Shiring explained.
“I don’t have a problem for them staying later, but I have a problem with them coming earlier, You know it does not add up, my least favorite is the teen kids getting up early in the morning, overall as long as time is spent helping kids make progress, then I don’t mind the time.”
“I am fine with the students staying later but it rolls into after school activities. I think it’s more difficult for them to get up earlier because they are more tired,” Mrs. Boyd a fifth grade ELA teacher states.
Eighth grade math teacher Mrs. McCanna said “I guess I can get more done but I don’t overall see the difference, it does not seem any longer, I think it allows us to be able to do the PAWS assemblies on Fridays so we don’t lose much academic time. I like them coming in earlier so we have more time for Math Counts and Math 24.”
Katelyn Vandecar, a seventh grade student shares her opinions as well,“Honestly its hard for after school sports and its hard to get there, coming in earlier is kinda weird because I am not a morning person,’ she explains.
Willis Bonzo an 8th grade student says, “Yeah, I don’t mind it.”
We notice the staff and students all seem like they have similar opinions, and they don’t mind the extra time.
