CHENEY – Following a two-week postponement, the Cheney School Board has approved the staggered school schedule.
Cheney Middle School, Cheney High School and Westwood Middle School will be attending earliest from 7:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with Salnave somewhere around those same times. Elementary students will attend class from either 8:50 a.m.-3:20 p.m. or 9:00a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Superintendent Rob Roettger asked the board for general approval during last Wednesday night’s meeting, May 25. He suggested that if there were any debates or questions about the exact proposed times, they would consider them later.
The goal is to have a decision at a time that gives families enough room to prepare for the change at the beginning of the fall.
“What we’re not going to ask tonight is that you approve the exact times,” Roettger said. “We can figure that out and I’d love to hear your feedback on any of those but my recommendation is after considering all the options, that we flip our current schedule with secondary first, elementary later and Salnave follow with those secondary schools.”
Roettger recognized the difficulties that a later elementary start suggests but is willing to implement services that might lessen parents’ concerns about getting childcare during certain day hours.
The board has discussed adding more peer educators at schools and allowing parents the opportunity to continue dropping their elementary students off an hour earlier than their new start time.
“There could be a couple peer educators in the gym—there’s breakfast—you can go out when the other kids get here and play outside,” Roettger said. “Even having that morning piece [of childcare] would help. It’s not childcare per say—call it extended day program and do the best we can.”
Switching the schedule now puts the Cheney School District (CSD) on the same schedule as other school districts. CSD intends for this decision to lessen the high number of missed class periods in secondary schools due to early dismissals for extracurricular activities.
After meeting with transportation, Roettger said there is one complication with the Salnave trip drivers.
“Currently, the Salnave only route runners can take a trip at one o’ clock and still get back for their afternoon route and I think there are six of them,” he said. “They wouldn’t be able do that if we flip the schedule, however, they have several drivers that are retiring and said they would come back as substitutes or trip drivers.”
Another suggestion is training additional drivers, including coaches, staff and anyone else who wants to be a trip-only driver.
Roettger was confident that the conflict wouldn’t create unforeseen issues.
“We’ll adjust and we always do,” he said.
Michaela is a former newsroom intern at the Cheney Free Press. She covered stories on education, city government, cops/courts/fire departments and local businesses.
Reader Comments(0)