Debate Over School Start Times Heats Back Up In Anne Arundel

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County parents frequently debate school start times. The Board of Education tossed around a few ideas earlier this year, shedding light on the topic.

The school board even hired a contractor to suggest 27 transportation-related changes, but the coronavirus pandemic disrupted those talks. Now, the chatter is heating up again.

Anne Arundel County Public schools will explain the pros and cons of changing start and dismissal times at a virtual workshop next Monday. That meeting will start at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.

School officials will explain how a potential change would impact operations. Board of Education members may ask questions, but they will not take public comment.

Constituents must wait another week to offer their feedback. The school board will host a hearing on Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. to gauge public opinion.

The board will hear testimony from up to 100 people, who will each have two minutes to speak. The school system will release more information next Tuesday, explaining how to signup to testify.

The workshop and the hearing will be streamed via Comcast and Broadstripe on Channel 96, Verizon on Channel 36 and the internet on Anne Arundel County Public Schools' YouTube channel.

Patch Field Editor Kristin Danley-Greiner contributed reporting to this article.

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