The Hamilton Southeastern School Board approved a measure that allows for four half days this academic year by adding five minutes to students’ days in the morning.
The half days will replace late start days. Late starts were used for teachers’ professional development, and the half days will be used for the same.
Supt. Dr. Brian Smith credits Senate Bill 189 for the school’s ability to make the change, which was signed into law May 8.
Half days will conclude at 11:15 a.m. with no lunch period at the high schools. Intermediate and junior high students will get out at 11:05 a.m., elementary and full-day kindergarten students finish their half days at 12:01, half-day kindergarten gets out at 12:20 p.m. for parent pick-up. The half days are scheduled for two Fridays in each semester. The first of which is scheduled for Sept. 13.
Start times are as follows: 8:35 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. for early childhood, 8:55 a.m. for elementary, 7:55 a.m. for intermediate and 7:35 a.m. for junior and high school students. Riverside Intermediate will also start at 7:35 a.m.
While the board supported the motion unanimously, there were questions and thoughts shared about how parents were surveyed, as well as why other days of the week weren’t given further consideration.
Asst. Supt. Dr. Beth Niedermeyer said Fridays do not disrupt instruction as much.
“Mornings are a lot better instructional time for students than afternoons, and Fridays are less disruptive to the instructional flow,” she said. “In addition, our early childhood (students) – they don’t attend schools on Fridays so if we made it another day, they would miss out because they come Monday through Thursday.”
A survey that went out to parents inquired whether Friday was a good day, but didn’t give options to pick which day would work best.
Other notes from the board’s Aug. 12 meeting:
– Smith said the district plans to launch a new website during fall break. Fall break is scheduled for Oct. 25.
– Smith said CFO Mike Reuter’s estimates for enrollment estimates for kindergarten will be within five to ten students. Smith said 1,532 kindergarten students are enrolled. Reuter’s estimate was 1,510.
– Glenda Ritz, Superintendent of Public Instruction, praised the district’s direction in regard to the planned senior academies and requested materials on them after the meeting Aug. 9.
