The effort to change school start times in Montgomery County is not over.
Tuesday morning, Montgomery County Schools announced officials are considering several new options from Superintendent Joshua Starr for adjusting bell times.
Starr had recommended a shift in the bell schedule in 2013 designed to benefit high school students, but reversed course in June, saying that changing the schedule would cost the school district too much money -- at least $21 million dollars a year.
The board asked Starr to try to develop other options that would cost no more than $10 million a year. A statement from Montgomery County Schools said Tuesday that Starr is now offering five new options to the board:
- Shift all start times 20 or 35 minutes later
- Start elementary school first
- Modify Starr's October 2013 recommendation
- Split the high school day
- Make no changes to bell times and explore other options to provide flexibility for high school students.
"I have said all along that I would like high school to start later in the day in order to support the health and well-being of our students," Starr said in Tuesday's statement. "But we must balance this decision against the other needs and priorities we have in the district and ensure any changes to high school bell times do not place an unfair burden on other students and their families."
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Some of the options will have little or no budget impact, while others will cost between $2 million and $6 million per year. Transportation is the driving factor behind the cost of these proposals.
Starr's official recommendation is for the board to only consider no-cost options. He favors all schools starting and ending 20 minutes later.
The board will hold two public hearings Jan. 22, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville. Those who wish to speak will have to sign up in advance by calling 301-279-3617 starting at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Any changes would be approved Feb. 10, as part of the board's fiscal year 2016 operating budget request to Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council.
