Sometimes there are stories that are just a bit complicated to explain.  One such story is an item to be considered by the Hamilton Southeastern School Board Wednesday night.  There are two issues that each would have an impact on student school start times.

One is a proposal to “flip” start times between elementary youngsters and high schoolers.  The other is a plan to change bus routing to a “3-tier” system.

At the January 15th school board meeting, Superintendent Allen Bourff did say he did not expect to “flip” start times next school year, but was considering  a proposal for the board to begin the 3-tier bus routing system in the 2020-2021 school year.

But that all changed after two more school board meetings, one a work session, the other a regular meeting.  Now, the board will have before it, two specific proposals for consideration at Wednesday’s regular session.

Both proposals from school administrators include implementation of the 3-tier bus plan.  One does include “flipping” start times between high school and elementary school.

Under proposal #1, elementary students would start their day at 7:50am and end at 2:20pm.  For those in grades 5-8, the day would start at 8:20am and end at 3:20pm.  The high school students would report for class at 8:55am and end the school day at 3:55pm.  This would be the plan implementing the “flip.”

Under proposal #2, those at the high school level would begin the school day at 7:30am and leave the school at 2:30pm.  Grades 5-8 would start at 8:00am and end the day at 3:00pm.  Elementary students would report for class at 9:00am and end the day at 3:30pm.  This would put into place the 3-tier bus routing plan but would not include the start time “flip.”

The superintendent’s proposal also reviews the impact on teacher professional development and the changes this would require for child care and the YMCA child care program.

You can review the proposal document submitted to the board by Dr. Bourff at this link.

Since this is an item on the published school board agenda, members of the public may request 3 minutes to speak before the board, but you must sign up in the board meeting room, beginning 30 minutes before the meeting and it cuts-off at 5 minutes before the board meeting begins. Below is the published guidance by the board on addressing board members at a meeting:

At each Board Meeting, excluding Board Work Sessions, the Board of School Trustees, will, accept comments from persons in attendance on the scheduled agenda, subject to these guidelines:
1.	A person who desires to speak to the Board, about a scheduled public agenda item, must register before the start of the meeting. A registration sheet will be available at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Registration will close five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting. Required registration information will include the name of the person(s) providing the comments, the organization represented (if any), and the agenda item to be addressed.
2.	Statements may not exceed three (3) minutes.
3.	No person may speak more than once on the same topic.
4.	Comments will be directed to the Board, not to an individual Board member.
5.	Comments may not reference specific employees, patrons, or students of the school corporation.
6.	Routine agenda items such as approval of minutes, certified and support staff, and conference reports reviewed by the Board at each meeting are not matters subject to comments by the public during the Board meeting.
7.	If the information is readily available, and is not confidential, Board members or administrators may provide answers to questions. Under most circumstances, questions will be noted and answers returned to the speaker at a later time.
8.	Statements will not be abusive or argumentative. Persons making comments will not debate statements made by other persons.
9.	The Board president will enforce these rules and may take actions necessary to maintain order at the meeting. Such actions may include, but are not limited to:
	A.	Stopping the speaker if the statement is too lengthy, unduly repetitive, or otherwise violates this procedure; and
	B.	Limiting the total amount of time devoted to public statements based on the number of people wishing to make statements and the length of the agenda.
The policy which is already in effect for addressing the Board on any matter will remain in effect. This means that a person may be placed on the agenda by notifying the Superintendent or Board president at least one week prior to a scheduled Board meeting.