Changing the start of the school day

[Angela]

Okay, I am totally against changing the time of school. If you have a child that works or is in any after school activity this is really going to mess this up. Our kids do not get into bed till very late as it is. I do not see how in the world this will save money. My preference would be to go to a 4 day week. That is truly the only way to save money!

[Angela]

WE NEED TO ALL E-MAIL DR. MCINTYRE AND YOUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE. YOU CAN FIND THERE E-MAIL AT
knoxschools.org
and Dr. Mcintyre at
[e-mail]

[granma2]

Changing the start times for ALL high schools defeats the purpose of changing it at all. The schools that are scheduled to change are those that do not have a middle school bus run that delivers children to a school simultaneously with a high school run. The school board is not in the day care business, especially for high school children. Considering day care issues should not be a factor in setting school times. Considering what is best for the children's educational needs should be the only consideration. If the system can save money by having seven schools start later, that's what they should do. The posts about kids driving is ridiculous. They either drive at rush hour in the afternoon if school gets out at 4:30 or in the morning if it starts earlier. The most effective solution to fear of teenagers driving to and from school is to let them ride the school bus that taxpayers pay so much for. Everyone will adapt to change. It's difficult, I agree, but change is often necessary, and in this case, I defer to the school board to decide how to arrange school start and stop times and bus routes.

[Darlene Hunter]

Funny thing is I was told there was a bus in this area, that picks up for Karns Middle and HVA.(simultaneously) Now, if that is true, I think that is already a waste of money and how in the world would that work if HVA starts at 9:30 and Karns Middle at 8:30? What about the students at HVA that attend classes at Byington Solway? If they are on different times schedules that will then effect those classes as well.

It was bad enough when my middle schoolers had to ride the bus and see high schoolers performing sex acts on each other. If I can allow my high school student to drive, she will. Besides, how else does she get to Pellissippi for her classes or get to school early for meetings or get home in time to work? Also-the school board does not determine bus routes. I belive Mr. Rick Grubbs still handles that.

[Cathy McCaughan]

I am not asking the school to babysit my children. Move it forward. Move it backward. There will be a mess to figure out either way. What we can't just 'adjust' to is the fact that many students participate in activities at other schools. I drive a horde of teenagers back and forth between two high schools almost daily. If the schools are on different schedules, this can't happen. Activities aren't just fluff. Every club and activity students do in high school is part of the personal portfolio which becomes their college application. If they are lucky, those high school activities become the college activities which pay part of their tuition.

[no privacy]

Very well said, Cathy!

[granma2]

How about clubs meeting in the morning before school? Practices could start at 6:30 or 7:00 am instead of 4:00 pm. Every school has a gym for students to shower. Every plan has alternatives. What I see so frequently on here is posts where people want things their way and no other way. If it's not their way, it's wrong. I think many of us (certainly not the majority of Knox County taxpayers) would support a tax increase for schools to leave teachers in place and buses running, but since that won't happen, we have to adapt and change to what best suits the majority of children.

And to Darlene: HVA and Karns Middle are not side by side as are many middle and high schools. The same bus drops off middle school students and then moments later high school students. It's probably why HVA is on the list for a later start time.

[Darlene Hunter]

"The schools that are scheduled to change are those that do not have a middle school bus run that delivers children to a school simultaneously with a high school run."


However, like I said, there are some HVA busses that do have a middle school bus run and a simultaneous High school time. If HVA starts more than an hour later....what happens to those students? Karns Middle and Karns High are not side by side either.

[Angela]

I don't mind change if it is for the better like i said before earlier or a 4 day week or stay the same is my preference. And I will tell you this I don't care about the bus situation because my child has never rode the bus and he is a feshman. I know every one is gonna get mad about this but I do not feel school buses are safe.

[Lori Wilson]

First let me say that I typically embrace change. "It will work out" is my motto.

But... it seems to me that the staggering of schools will cause a huge logistical ripple through many households, our kids, and really most of the schools... for what seems to me to me a relatively small savings, if it even is that much of a cost difference.

Families have a huge adjustment to make to accomodate all the many schedule shifts this requires. While I do not expect Knox County Schools to be my babysitter, my family has a very carefully crafted scheduled based on school and after-school activities. I sought a job that fit the hours, picked a house that allowed for the commute, and otherwise molded us to fit. A re-mold hurts my head. No I have no idea how i will get them out the door and get to work on time - but that is my problem to solve, i guess.

Our kids will have much adapting to do as well, although I think we can agree that they can and will. I do worry if my older son can keep his after-school job and not get there till an hour after other high schoolers can. And will my middle son be able to stay for sports and still get home with time for dinner and tons of homework? Our evenings already feel so compressed. And no matter what the superintendant's research theoretically shows... staying up later and sleeping late simply isn't something I'm wanting to teach my teens. College and jobs do not wait till 9:30am to start. In any case - that point is mute - if it really were better for the teens, we'd be doing it at all schools. This is purely about money - don't let anyone fool you.

Finally i cannot imagine the logistics that ALL the schools would now face. What time are JV games now scheduled? well it depends. When will the Byington Solway classes start? well it depends. Can my child take an AP class at that other school? well it depends. It's foolish to think that each of these schools operates independently of each other. The change of these few will impact all.

So Dr. McIntyre - before you disrupt the entire county to save what is still significantly LESS than the income of the school board... SHOW ME THE MONEY. Show me the bus contract that says "Minus $700,000" in writing please. BEFORE you cause all of this disruption.

[Mary]

Has anyone been to either of the meetings at Karns High or Hardin Valley Academy this week? There seems to be no straight answers on the late start. "That had not been considered" or "We are working on that" was the answer of the evenings. Shouldn't all avenues have been considered concerning this before taking the proposal to the board? Mr. McIntyre should be forthcoming with the people who are paying his salary. Dr. Grubb, too, needs to attend these meetings since he is the name on the memo given to McIntyre concerning the changes. Perhaps he would have more answers.Parents, teachers, staff and any Knox County residents need to be at Fulton tonight for this meeting. There is strength in numbers!

[granma2]

I wanted to write that the new poll should include an ability to vote for "allowing the school board to decide what's best for the interests of the children and KCS" rather than just "leave it" or "change it to earlier" or "change it to later."

[granma2]

No, Up, it wasn't something you wrote. I'm referring to the new poll on this (Knoxville News-Sentinel School Matters) website. It asks what one feels about the change in start times for high schools, but the only choices are "leave it the same," "change it to earlier," or "change it to later." I just feel there should be a vote choice for people who want to give that power to the school board if we're taking a true poll. Yes, I'm saying that parents can voice but ultimately the board needs to decide.