May 6, 2022
Parents, Guardians and Community Members,
Cheney Public Schools has been incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to full time, in person instruction for students throughout the current school year, and the flexibility and resilience of our transportation department has played an integral role in our ability to do so. The purpose of today’s communication is to provide all families with current thinking related to start and end times at our schools. While final decisions have not been made at this time, I want to be transparent about the potential for changes to start and end times next school year and share current thinking and data in relation to our school schedules.
For several years prior to the pandemic, it had become apparent that at some point the district would need to adjust to a staggered schedule due to increasing enrollment and decreasing numbers of bus drivers. A year ago, out of necessity related to COVID restrictions and our need to provide part time in person learning, staggered school day start and end times were implemented across our district.
A year ago, as we began planning for the full time return of all students in the fall of 2021, it became clear that we would not be able to meet the transportation needs associated with common start and end times at all of our schools due to a shortage of bus drivers. Consequently, we created a district-wide bus schedule in which Betz, Snowdon, Sunset and Windsor elementary schools are in session from 7:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. and secondary schools hold classes from 8:55 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. It was necessary to tie Salnave Elementary School’s 8:35 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. schedule to secondary school times because of the large geographic nature of Salnave’s attendance area. Additionally, HomeWorks! and Three Springs High School are on separate site-specific learning schedules.
As our district continues to grow in student population and the number of bus drivers across the region continues to decrease, it has become clear that we will need to continue utilizing a staggered schedule for the foreseeable future. District leaders have been gathering information from multiple sources in order to make informed decisions about start and end times at each of our schools for the 2022-2023 school year. In February, 747 parents, 338 students, and 271 staff members participated in a ThoughtExchange related to the current staggered start and end schedule. The comments shared expressed many concerns that have surfaced related to the 2021-2022 school schedule (and many of the positive aspects as well). The most common concerns included child care for elementary students and the inability to access employment and missed class time for athletics/extracurricular activities for secondary students due to their later release time.
The majority of negative feedback in the ThoughtExchange was in relation to secondary school schedules. Additionally, data show the amount of time Cheney High School students and staff miss classes for events and competitions could decrease by approximately 50% in many instances if secondary schools were on an earlier start and release schedule. Also due to the late release of secondary students, practice and meeting time for several sports and activities at the middle and high school levels has been significantly reduced, and in several instances this has limited students’ ability to participate.
At this time we are considering switching Salnave and all secondary schools to the earlier start and having Betz, Snowdon, Sunset, and Windsor start at a later time. Ultimately, there isn’t a “perfect” staggered start and end schedule that will meet the specific needs of every household. In order to relieve some of the stress this switch may cause to families with younger children, we will explore ways in which we might be able to provide extended day programming at our elementary schools.
The decision to switch start times is not final at this time. During recent meetings I have shared information with our Board of Directors related to our school schedule and suggested that we should consider altering our school schedule for the 22-23 school year and beyond. I would like to provide a recommendation to the Board for consideration by May 11th if possible so that if a change is made families and staff have three and half months to plan for the start of the 22-23 school year. Once a final decision is made and details are worked out with our transportation department, additional information will be shared.
I know considering a possible flip of the staggered start/end schedule will likely cause some people to worry, yet, my intent is to help create the best possible school start/end time schedule (within the limitations we face) and address any potential issues that may exist or are created. Thank you for your understanding as we work through this important issue and please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.
Thank you,
Rob Roettger, Superintendent