Schools keep '07 start time same
BY BRADLEY "B.J." DAVIS, JR. Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com

Contrary to rumors, Santa Rosa County School District officials are not planning to start Gulf Breeze area schools later next year.

"People have been calling my office asking me about start times," said Tim Wyrosdick, Assistant Superintendent. "There will be no wholesale changes to school start time next year."

He explained the reason that grade levels at certain schools might see a slightly different school start time is for bus scheduling. For example, Gulf Breeze Elementary, Middle and High Schools now begin at 7:40 a.m., 7:50 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., respectively.

The school board approved Aug. 20 as the first day for students for the 2007-08 school year, but has not announced anything about changing the times students will begin school. With the exception of a few minutes between grade levels, no major changes are planned.

"It's called the three-tier system. We were trying to decide (which grade lever) would go first riding the busses," said Jennifer Granse, Gulf Breeze Middle School principal. She explained that there were discussions last September to eliminate bus routes, but the plan never came to fruition.