New bell schedule approved by district

The new bell schedule for the 2018-2019 school year has been changed in attempt to better the Hillsborough county school district as a whole. The high school start time will be changed from 7:33 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and the end time will be extended from 3 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. 

The school times have changed for all high schools, middle schools and elementary schools, as well as magnet schools which pertain to a different set of times than public schools. 

“I like the later start time; it gives me more sleep time,” sophomore Andrea Beaty said. 

Hillsborough county launched a survey with different options of school start times for all grades and types of schools. The community voted for the best fitting option to for each individual’s different needs, and the county came up with a final consensus.  

“It gives me a chance to wake up at the same time and have breakfast and get ready in a reasonable time,” freshman Nicole Philipp said. 

Approximately 57 thousand people responded to the survey. The new schedule is the outcome from student, parent and staff voters. 

The reason that the district is changing the times revolves around the fact that buses are getting students to school late. The school start times are relatively close to bus times, and the buses are rushing to pick up the students on top of some buses already catering to two schools that have the same start time. 

“I don’t really like those times; good thing I won’t be here next year,” senior Eva Wetherington said 

These new school start times should open up lee-way to bus drivers and give them time to pick up the students, as well as getting them to school on time. 

“It’s good that they are thinking about the bus situation but the times could have been better” World History teacher Shawn Lockes said.  

The new school times are a general plan for schools next year, but depending on each school’s individual needs, the times can vary from school to school; either way, some students are with the changes and some are against. 

Some students argue that the times can affect their after-school sports and activities, while others say that the after-school functions will accommodate to the changing school times if necessary.