New School Start, End Times Approved By Cartersville BOE

CARTERSVILLE, GA — Beginning next school year, the schedule for Cartersville City School students will be slightly different. That's because the school board at its Monday, Jan. 8 meeting approved a request from Superintendent Dr. Howard Hinesley to make these adjustments.

In a memo outlined to the board, the superintendent said the system has been exploring options to address an increase in bus ridership without increasing its transportation budget. The state currently reimburses the school system $214,740 each year in transportation costs. However, the system's transportation budget for fiscal year 2017 was a little more than $1.6 million, meaning local taxpayers are forced to make up the $1.4 million difference.

After reviewing the costs, district staff members approached school governance councils about a proposal to stagger opening and closing times. The feedback received about the proposal was positive, the system added. Board members approved the following changes for the system to take effect in the 2018-19 school year:

CURRENT TIMES

Pre-K

• Start: 7:45 a.m.
• End: 2:15 p.m.

Cartersville Primary School

• Start: 8:00 a.m.
• End: 2:30 p.m.

Cartersville Elementary School

• Start: 7:55 a.m.
• End: 3 p.m.

Cartersville Middle School

• Start: 7:55 a.m.
• End: 3:15 p.m.

Cartersville High School

• Start: 7:53 a.m.
• End: 3:22 p.m.

NEW TIMES

Pre-K

• Start: 7:30 a.m.
• End: 2 p.m.

Cartersville Primary School

• Start: 7:30 a.m.
• End: 2:20 p.m.

Cartersville Elementary School

• Start: 7:30 a.m.
• End: 2:30 p.m.

Cartersville Middle School

• Start: 8:30 a.m.
• End: 3:30 p.m.

Cartersville High School

• Start: 8:30 a.m.
• End: 3:45 p.m.

Dr. Hinesley said these changes will help the Cartersville City School System "be more efficient both operationally and financially."

Procedurally, the system will transport all pre-k, primary and elementary students living more than a half-mile from the school and all middle school and high school students living more than a mile from the school. These changes, the superintendent added, meet the requirements set forth by state law.

The After School Program will continue to operate with an opening time of 2 p.m. and a closing time of 6 p.m.

Tell us: what do you think of the changes?

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