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Navarre school supporters question times
But parents were more interested in the new start times for the district's schools for the upcoming school year beginning Aug. 18. "I see in Gulf Breeze you don't have such a wide gap in starting times between elementary and middle schools," one mother said. "But in Navarre you have two middle schools starting at two different times. The new starting times for some of our schools are such a drastic change that it will be tough for our kids to adjust and do their best next year." Superintendent John Rogers said the two Navarre middle schools are starting at different times because of the buses needed under the new three-tier system. "If we had started them at the same time, we would need extra buses to make those routes," he said. "This whole thing is set around the tough budget times. I know this will be a lifestyle change for you all. It won't necessarily be easy. "But if I am a parent of a young child that now will have to get up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. to catch the bus, then I am going to make sure that child gets to bed by 8 or 8:30 the night before. Children need a certain amount of sleep, and you are the parent." One parent asked if next year's FCAT scores will determine of the time change stays in place for the following year. "If the FCAT scores fall for these schools with the time changes, will you flip right back the following year to the old time changes?" she asked. Rogers said elementary schools already on early start times are doing just fine on FCAT. "We have some elementary schools in the north end of the county that already have these early start times, and they are 'A' schools on the FCAT standard. I respect your opinions, but I will tell you the changes have been made and will stay in place," he said. One parent said this kind of meeting should have been held before the changes in busing and school start times were made. "I guarantee, if you had held meetings like this 10 months ago and said the things you told us tonight, you would have had every person in this room — about 100 of us here tonight — behind you 100 percent," the parent said. The crowd applauded. Later, school board member Ed Gray III said the district and board could do a better job of communicating with the public. "I think the most provocative thing said here tonight was by the man who told us we should have done this before making the changes we made," Gray said. "This process has shown us we need better communication with the parents when we are facing tough decisions like we have been facing — BEFORE those decisions are made. "We dropped the ball in that aspect this time around. But hopefully next time we can remember and do it right." |
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