Districts change bell schedules

SANDUSKY — Local school districts have updated their bell schedules for the upcoming school year. Sandusky and Clyde-Green Springs schools' boards of education approved new schedules as the districts prepare for next year. Sandusky Sandusky Schools' new schedule was approved at the board's meeting last week. The changes come as a way to improve the district's transportation, instructional time and overall safety and structure of the day, according to the district's announcement of the change. The new times would reduce bus delays, improve academic integrity by protecting instructional time and protect students' safety by eliminating the early morning waits in the dark. New school hours compared to 2024-25 hours: • Sandusky Intermediate School: — New: 7:30 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. — Old: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. • Regional Center for Arts and Academic Studies: — New: 7:30 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. — Old: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. • Sandusky Middle School: — New: 8:00 a.m. to 2:46 p.m. — Old: 8:20 a.m. to 3:21 p.m. • Sandusky High School: — New: 8 a.m. to 2:46 p.m. — Old: 8:20 a.m. to 3:21 p.m. • Sandusky Early Learning Academy*: — New: 8:40 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Old: 7:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. *Preschool session times will be announced at a later date. • Sandusky Primary School: — New: 8:40 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Old: 7:35 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. The district surveyed parents, staff and students and considered its feedback to come up with the best changes to benefit the community. Under the district's announcement on social media, many community members shared their opinions on the decision and questioned the survey, how many responses the district received and what questions were asked. The survey was shared with families through email, text and was available on the district website for weeks. The staff responses were shared similarly. About 180 were received from staff and nearly 470 from guardians. The survey asked families about which school their students attended and how they get to school. The survey also sought opinions, preferences and what effect current and possible start and end times would have on families. It used specific example start times, like an earlier 20-minute start time for middle and high school, which became a reality. Other commenters on the announcement questioned how parents are supposed to accommodate the change, specifically highlighting families with children who are of different ages and parents who are working. Others expressed satisfaction with the decision. "While we recognize that any change requires an initial adjustment period for families and staff, we firmly believe the long-term benefits of this new schedule will significantly outweigh these initial adaptations," said Dennis Muratori, chief of staff and transformation officer. Clyde-Green Springs Clyde-Green Springs Schools' board of education approved its time changes at its May 19 meeting. The approval means the high school and middle school with start ten minutes earlier. Clyde High School and McPherson Middle School will start the day at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. The two elementary schools' start times will stay the same. Clyde Elementary School's hours are 8:50 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. and Green Springs Elementary School runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The district shared a letter announcing its time change online and through a physical letter sent to families with students in grades 6-12. The letter, signed by superintendent Lucas Messer, stated the reason for the time change was to improve transportation routes and efficiency of schedules for the two elementary schools. "This change is aimed at optimizing our transportation system and ensuring a smoother experience for all students," Messer said.