Boston Public Schools will reconsider start and dismissal time changes following outcry from parents and teachers, the district announced Friday.
The Boston School Committee passed sweeping changes on Dec. 6, leaving some students to go in significantly earlier or later, and some to continue going in at the same time. Friday, school officials said schedules would not be finalized until mid-January.
"BPS hopes this additional time will allow the district to work through issues that have been shared regarding start and end times," the district said in a statement. "We encourage families and all stakeholders to attend any of the 10 meetings we are holding next week."
Those 10 meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the following dates and locations:
- Dec. 18 Roche Family Community Center, 1716 Centre St., West Roxbury
- Dec. 18 East Boston High School Cafeteria, 86 White St., East Boston
- Dec. 19 Warren Prescott K-8 School, 50 West School St., Charlestown
- Dec. 19 Mattapan Early Elementary School, 100 Hebron St., Mattapan
- Dec. 19 James F. Condon K-8 School, 200 D St., South Boston
- Dec. 20 McKeon Post, 4 Hill Top St., Dorchester
- Dec. 20 ABCD, 565 Warren Street, Roxbury
- Dec. 20 Blackstone Community Center, BCYF - 50 West Brookline St., Boston
- Dec. 20 Curley K-8 School, 493 Centre St., Jamaica Plain
- Dec. 21 Brighton High School, 25 Warren St., Brighton
The announcement came two nights after frustrated parents sounded off at a school committee meeting in Roxbury.
"Anger does not describe what us parents are feeling," said Jane Miller.
"I'm disappointed that, once again, you asked us what we wanted, and then you went ahead with what you wanted," said parent Susan Lombardi-Verticelli.
Some parents there were worried about overtired children, as many elementary schools will start at 7:15 in the morning.
"If this goes through and she has to wake up at 6 to get to school at 7:15, by 3 o'clock, she's going to be napping in after-school, and that is not what I want for my kid," said parent Gisel Pena.
They're worried about money, as well. With so many elementary schools dismissing at 1 p.m., they'll be forced to pay for costly after-school programs.
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"This has been an extremely flawed process with a complete lack of transparency," said parent Julie Muse-Fisher.
The Boston Teachers Union was among those protesting changing start times Wednesday.
"The 7:15 a.m. start times, we had advised against that," said BTU President Jessica Tang. "Or the times when a school went from 9:30 to 7:15, or on the opposite end, from 7:30 to 9:30."
School officials say research shows both younger and older students will benefit from the changes.
"We knew we needed to move start times for high school students later," Superintendent Tommy Chang said Wednesday. "And move elementary school departures times earlier."
