Published: June 23, 2009 11:26 pm      

Hearing tests Murray school calendar plans

Amanda Carter doesn’t want her 4-year-old subjected to a school day that begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.

“I’m afraid that this is going to burn her out,” she said. “I think that is a very long time for a 4-year-old.”

Carter is one of several of Murray County residents who object to the school system’s proposal to shorten the school calendar from 180 days to 160 days to save money. She was among about 75 parents and educators who attended a Tuesday public hearing at Chatsworth Elementary School to learn about the calendar that would add an hour to the school day while pushing the start of school until Sept. 8.

Superintendent Vicki Reed said an online survey the school system has conducted for the past three weeks on its Web site indicates that of about 275 participants, 94 percent favor the shorter year. Officials said cutting out school during the hottest month of the year will save $95,395 in transportation costs and $29,305 in utilities costs. The revised schedule won’t affect salaries, said human resources director Danny Dunn.

Murray County High School athletics director Mitch Holcomb said students will still be able to attend sports events and practices.

“I think this is one of the best things we could do athletic-wise,” he said. “Practice will be a whole lot cooler in August because they’ll be able to practice in the mornings.”

Bagley Middle School principal Spencer Gazaway said the longer day will increase instructional time during the year from 59,400 minutes to 68,000 in middle school and high school and 72,800 minutes in elementary school. Chatsworth Elementary principal Mike Pritchett said administrators are looking to add more breaks during the school day.

Preschool teacher Brandy Rainey said she expects older students to have more difficulty with the revised schedule than younger ones.

“I think our (students) will be fine because they’ve never been (to school),” she said. “They don’t know that there is a shorter day.”

Transportation director Johnny Ward said there will be two bus runs — one for high school and middle school students, and a second for elementary school students. Officials said busing younger students last ensures that older siblings are home first to take care of them when needed.

The shorter calendar year is one of several options Murray County Board of Education members are considering as they face a nearly $8 million budget shortfall. The budget for the year that ends June 30 is about $60 million while the proposed $53.9 million budgetwill be presented Thursday at during a called meeting at 6 p.m. at the central office, 715 Chestnut St., in Chatsworth.

A state law that went into effect in May allows school systems the option of shortening the number of days in session as long as students still get 1,520 hours of instruction in a year.



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Proposed bell changes



High school new: 7:30 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.

Middle school new: 7:30 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.

Elementary and pre-school new: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.



High school old: 8:04 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Middle school old: 8 a.m. to 3:12 p.m. at Gladden, 8 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. at Bagley

Elementary school old: Start time varied by school from 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. End time at 2:20 p.m.