By: Tabitha Drover
Everyday at Homer High school students start school at 8:30 and get out at 3:15. The school district wants students to start school at 7:50 am or 8:00 am and get out around 2:30 pm or 2:40 pm. But why are we changing the schedule now? Dr.Gee, Principal, said “If we do not start earlier at the high school, elementary schools could potentially begin school at 9:00- 9:15 AM and end around 4:00 PM.”
But some are not happy about this change. They feel that getting up early could ruin the rest of the day and make them grumpy. It would be harder to function. Megan Garoutte, sophomore, said “No one would show up at 7:50 am everyday. We have a big enough problem trying to get people here at 8:25.” Taylor Gonzales, another sophomore, said “I get up at 6 as it is and I barely make it out the door in time. I heard they want to shorten passing times too, that’s ridiculous! I barely make it to class with 5 minutes!”
Some in the district, however, feel it will help students, it will limit the cost that we spend on buses every year. Dr.Gee also added,
“According to Mr. Dave Jones, assistant superintendent, this two-tired system would possibly eliminate at least two or three bus routes in Homer, thereby creating a more efficient system. In a two tired system, a school bus driver would pick up middle school and high school students in most likely a longer route thereby getting more students. The driver would then drop students off at their schools. Secondly, the driver would then return to the same route and pick up elementary students.”
Dr.Gee also added, “Dave Jones, assistant superintendent,is going to schedule public comment periods for the parents, teachers, and students to put in their opinion. The question is not are we going to do the two-tired system, we are going to, the question is how are we going to change the schedule?”