Alex Chimbo ‘23

Staff Writer

     On Tuesday, October 29, Dr. Carver sent an email to all BPS faculty and staff that contained information regarding the proposed school start time change.

      “The Bethel Public Schools had a committee meeting to look at the research on start times and the effects on secondary students,” Dr. Carver explained in her email. 

The school start time discussion originated from the current renovation happening to Johnson School, projected to be done in the Fall of 2020. 

     The proposed school start times mostly impact the High School, as Bethel High’s start time would be the same as the middle school; both will start at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m, which is a 15 minute later school start and end for the high school. This means that both high school and middle school students will be riding the bus together. 

      “High school students have a stronger positive influence on middle school students’ behavior on the bus. In addition, not many of our highschool students ride the bus and/or do not socially interact with other students while riding the bus,” Dr. Carver’s email explained.  

     Johnson, Berry and Rockwell will all start and end at the same time as well, starting at 8:45 a.m and ending at 3:20 p.m. 

 “I want us to be pushed back with a later start time but I don’t want to stay with the middle schoolers,” Molly Reed ‘23 explained. 

Ryan Castle ‘23 expressed his concern about the time change, adding that “the bus route would also change.” 

     The Board of Education was scheduled to vote on the time change at its meeting in November. Students and staff are eagerly waiting for the final verdict.