Staggered Start Times Introduced At Evergreen Park D124 Schools

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — As students go back to school this week, Evergreen Park Elementary School Dist. 124 will be implementing staggered starts between the four K-5 elementary schools, and the 6-8 middle school. The change was made due to the current challenges of having middle school and the district’s elementary schools starting at the same time.

These updates are a direct result of the district’s school safety assessment and focus on student attendance, specifically tardiness. The changes are expected to reduce tardiness by parents having to drop off children at multiple locations, as well as improve traffic flow in the community before and after school.

In the interest of school safety, the district also recommends that students no longer “linger” outside of school property prior to the start of the school day but rather go directly to their classroom upon arrival to be immediately welcomed and supervised indoors by their classroom teacher.

Beginning Thursday, Aug. 24, students at Southwest, Southeast, Northwest and Northeast elementary schools, doors will open at 8:10 a.m., with the final tardy bell ringing at 8:20 a.m. Afternoon dismissal will be at 2:55 p.m.

Preschool/early childhood students, who return to school on Friday, Aug. 25, will start at TIME for morning sessions, and TIME for afternoon sessions.

Doors to Central Middle School will open at 8:30 a.m., with the final tardy bell ringing at 8:40 a.m. School will be dismissed in the afternoon at 3:15 p.m.

Before-school care will remain consistent for all schools starting at 7 a.m.

Similarly, times will be staggered for late-start Wednesdays. Doors to elementary schools will open at 9:10 a.m., with school starting at 9:20 a.m. Afternoon dismissal will remain the same.

Doors to Central Middle School on late-start Wednesdays will open at 9:30 a.m. and school will start at 9:40 a.m. Afternoon dismissal will remain the same.

On early dismissal days, elementary schools will dismiss students at 11:20 a.m., and the middle school dismissed at 11:40 a.m.

For questions and more information, visit EPSD 124 Staggered Start FAQs.