Not satisfied with previous explanations, parents continued Monday to speak out about school scheduling changes next year.
‘We’re asking you to reconsider,? said parent Debbie Rumstandt during public comment at the end of the May 21 Clarkston Schools board meeting. ‘We have hundreds more names on petitions.?
As part of busing changes saving about $150,000, next year’s schedule pushes the school day 40 minutes later for Clarkston, North Sashabaw, and Pine Knob elementaries.
About a dozen parents addressed the board from the podium or their seats to oppose the changes, citing research that young children learn best early in the morning. A later end to the day, at 4:20 p.m., also means they wouldn’t have enough time after school for homework, family, or play.
‘You can’t put a price on family time,? said parent Jodie Dowd. ‘I resent that you are taking away our valuable family time.?
Christopher Lanker presented a 16-page list of data, ideas and alternatives.
‘Elementary students will arrive home at unreasonable times, and traveling at peak traffic,? Lanker said.
Students will arrive home around 5 p.m. During winter, students with the longest bus routes will get home after dark, he said.
Challenging the premise that it’s either late start times or teachers layoffs, he presented other alternatives. They included eliminating routes, pay to ride, shuttles, reschedule junior high and high school hours instead, cut administrative costs, consolidate transportation purchases, and fund raising.
Addressing the parents? concerns, board President Stephen Hyer said these factors were considered during the transportation-plan process.
He favors the idea of starting high school classes later in the morning, and elementaries earlier. Research shows high-school students concentrate better later in the day, he said.
However, hundreds of parents spoke out against the idea, he said.
Shuttles are unreliable, public schools are prohibited from charging for busing, and budget cuts are ongoing in all departments, Hyer said.
‘We’ve been cutting the budget 5 percent or more over the past six years,? he said. ‘We’ve been cutting behind the scenes as long as possible.?
The district transportation committee will also review bus-stop locations if they are unsafe, he said.
The board will take parents? concerns under consideration and will monitor the situation next year, Hyer said.
Superintendent Al Roberts repeated his call for parental involvement in the state budget process.
‘Please help us out,? Roberts said. ‘Legislators say they want to hear from parents ? let your voices be heard.?