Portland school officials are considering new start and end times for elementary and middle schools after some parents complained some start times were too early and that staggering end times would disrupt athletic schedules.

The school board discussed the latest proposal Tuesday night at a workshop in City Council chambers. A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. April 28 at Lincoln Middle School.

The latest proposal is to have all middle schools go from 7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Ocean, Riverton and Reiche elementary schools would go from 8:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. and Hall, East End, Longfellow, Lyseth and Presumpscot elementary schools would go from 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

“The new proposal is well thought out,” said Lyseth parent Giovanna Bechard, who had opposed the earlier schedule, which had Lyseth and three other elementary schools starting at 7:45 a.m.

Also Tuesday, the board voted to make up snow days by adding four more days to the calendar, with students getting out on June 19.

The district is changing school times because the board added 20 minutes to each school day beginning this fall. While some parents complained about the early start for elementary students, there were also concerns that the staggered middle school schedule, with different end times, would cause problems with after-school sports and access to athletic fields.

“We received several concerns, and I believe those concerns merit review,” Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk told the board.

The high school schedule, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., remains unchanged.

 


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