A scheduling change throughout the Twin Rivers Unified School District prompted a small demonstration of parents at a North Highlands elementary school this morning.
The parents are upset that their children must come 85 minutes later on Wednesdays than other days of the week.
Twin Rivers was formed July 1 when four districts in the northern area of Sacramento County merged. District leaders negotiated a contract change with the teachers union to create a consistent weekly time slot on Wednesday mornings for staff development.
Middle and high schools previously had used the late Wednesday starting schedule. But three former elementary districts had scheduled such time for teachers at the end of the day on varying days of the week. Students went home early or to after-school programs on those days.
The new unified schedule started today. At Hillsdale, where students usually start school at 8:15 a.m., classes began at 9:40 a.m.
Parents complained that the change was disruptive for children and created child care problems for parents who had to be at work much earlier.
"Kids learn best in the morning. They should be in class," said Kevin Halsey, whose two daughters attend Hillsdale.
Fernando Gomez, whose two sons attend Hillsdale, said he and others also were frustrated that parents weren't consulted in the decision.
Hillsdale Principal Ken Gammelgard said he understood parents' concerns. He encouraged families to bring their children at 9:20 a.m. on the late-start days. He lined up eight classified staff to supervise children whose parents needed to drop them earlier. He said five children arrived between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday.
The protesting parents say they were concerned about a busload of children who arrived shortly before 9 a.m. and spent much of that time waiting outside the school for classes to start. Gammelgard said buses typically bring students early and the students fall into regular routines of eating breakfast in the cafeteria, playing on the playground or waiting outside school or their classrooms. He said he expected the late-start system to become more comfortable for students and families.
Trinette Marquis, communications director for Twin Rivers, said many principals reported the roll-out of the late-start program went smoothly at their schools.
Call The Bee's Deb Kollars, (916) 321-1090.
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