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Friday, March 20, 2009
Fairfax County School Board Votes on School Start and Dismissal Times
The Fairfax County School Board has voted to confirm the existing school start time structure for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Generally, under this existing structure, high schools open first, then middle and elementary schools. The Board rejected a possible bell schedule, known as Iteration 3, which used a three-tiered approach that would have started some elementary schools first, high schools second, and middle schools and other elementary schools last.
“The School Board reached out to the community through public meetings and an online survey and heard personally from a multitude of people through e-mails, conversations, and telephone calls about the start times issue,” said School Board chair Dan Storck. “The message from students, parents, and the community was to leave the current start and dismissal structure as is.”
“Because Fairfax County is facing its most challenging budget year in recent memory, we need to use our resources in the most efficient way possible,” says FCPS Superintendent Jack D. Dale. “We will continue to seek transportation efficiencies while maintaining our current bell schedule structure.” The FCPS Department of Facilities and Transportation Services annually reviews and makes minor adjustments to start times to improve efficiencies throughout the school system.
### Note: For more information, contact the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach at 571-423-1200.
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