Some parents unhappy with proposed start times for local schools

A Leon County school bus parked on Griffin Middle School.
Photo Submitted by Breyanna Holmes

The Leon County School Board is reaching out to parents to determine if schools should begin at a different time .

The school board has sent out surveys to parents and faculty regarding possible time changes. Officials are collecting feedback through a generated survey sent via email.

The board is inquiring high school beginning at 7:30 a.m., middle schools at 8:30 a.m. and elementary schools at 9:30 a.m.  

Elementary school students may be scheduled to go to school at the latest time.   

Dunyell Adams, a parent of 8-year-old Jadon Williams, isn’t too fond of the proposal.

I don’t feel that they should change the elementary school time because it’s too late. Children that age are not responsible enough to get up and get themselves ready for the buses without help.”

She continued,   

“Parents will already be at work and they have no help from older siblings because they will already be at school. They should either be first or in the middle so they can have help and have the supervision if they are too young to be by themselves in the first place. It shouldn’t be hard for parents to ensure that the young ones are where they need to be while they go to work especially if they have no help at home,” she said.

Georgia Wiley has two grandchildren who attend Griffin Middle School. Both ride the school bus to school. She heard about the proposed time change but she didn’t know what time they were trying to change for middle school.

“I have to be to at work at 9 a.m., that’s why I let them catch the bus. Normally before I leave I get them up so they can get to school on time. I’m concerned about a lot of these kids that may have too much time in the morning for those whose parents work,” Wiley said.

She continued,

“If the time is 8:30 a.m. for the middle schools I think that would be better. Most parents have to be to work at 8 a.m. and that’ll give them a chance to be to work on time. But there may be a lot of parents that have a problem with that middle school time.  

“What they should have is free before and after school for elementary like they do that the middle school through 21st century.  I understand what they are trying to do but if you’re going to do something like that. Put in place a before and after plan at the school,” she added. “Griffin has the 21st century program in place. If they swap the times for the middle school and the elementary they need to put something in place for the elementary school. Other than that it’ll be a burden on the parents.”

The mother of a kindergartner at Canopy Oaks Elementary, Brandi Gentry, said, “This is great news, I hate waking up early. Kids normally don’t like to go to bed early and wake up early, getting my daughter ready is very hectic.”  

For more information https://www.leonschools.net