News and Events

View Ridge staff and families,

The Seattle Public Schools District finalized bell times – start and end times – for the 2012-13 school year.

Starting in the fall, View Ridge school will start at 9:25 and students will be dismissed at 3:35.

This change has impact on families. These bell time changes are a result of changes to transportation for the 2012-13 school year. The School Board voted to move forward with a transportation plan that has minimal impact on most bell times. However, in order to reach the cost savings needed in transportation, six schools– View Ridge, Wedgwood, Bryant, McGilvra, North Beach and Adams – will see their bell times moved as much as 30 minutes later for next year.

SPS needed to implement new start times at six schools to continue a three-tied bus plan (where staggered start times are required so that one bus can make three trips between schools). This change will save the District between $300,000 and $500,000, allowing SPS to keep further budget cuts away from the classroom.

It is known that many members of the larger Seattle Public Schools community would like the District to consider later high school start times and earlier elementary start times. This has major ramifications for high school students, including after-school jobs and athletics, as well as before- and after-school child care for elementary school families.

SPS is committed to thoroughly studying these ideas, and is asking for your patience as it will require considerable time and public involvement. The District will work with families, staff and the current transportation task force to tackle these long-term issues, with recommendations expected for the 2014-15 school year.

The full list of bell times for all schools next year is posted online at: http://bit.ly/12-13-Bell-Times

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