Proposed Daily Start and End Times for 2021-22
By Paul Hall on Thursday, June 24th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER CITY – During the regular monthly Baker School board meeting on June 17, new daily start and end times for the coming school year were proposed for the board to consider and revisit at the next board meeting on July 22.
Principals for K-6 schools in the district voiced support for slightly later start times and shorter days more appropriate for our youngest students, in particular. Other specific reasons were also voiced.
“We have seen a big reduction in behavioral challenges at the beginning of the day this year,” said Phil Anderson, who will be Principal at South Baker Intermediate School next year. “COVID-19 protocols changedhow we managed drop-offs. Students going immediately to their classrooms for breakfast, rather than the playground, after being dropped off cut behavioral challenges significantly. Students benefited from a calmer start to the day and a guaranteed breakfast each morning. Later start times will allow our teachers, who require a certain amount of time in their classrooms before students arrive, to maintain this practice.”
“Staggered start times for different schools also make it easier for parents dropping off children at multiplelocations,” added Baker Early Learning Center Director Angela Lattin. “This year, each student got one-on-one time with caring staff members as they arrived and went straight to their classroom. We want to maintain that going forward.”
“Many of our students will also benefit from a little more sleep,” added Katy Collier, who will be Principal atBrooklyn Primary School next year.
The start and end times that were proposed would only mean a move of approximately 10-15 minutes for the coming school year and will be up for discussion again at the July 22 board meeting.
