ASD holds open house sessions on school start times

The Anchorage School District plans to make a decision in early October about whether or not to change school start times for the 2019-2020 school year.

The final recommendation made by ASD Superintendent Deena Bishop is for high school to start and end 30 minutes later, for middle school to start 75 minutes later, and for elementary school to start 15 minutes earlier.

During ASD's work session, board members reviewed data from a

conducted over the summer about future school calendar changes.

Todd Hess, ASD Chief of Human Resources says about 46 percent of respondents are satisfied with the current calendar. Another 40 percent report neutral feelings on the current schedule, and 13 percent report being unsatisfied.

The proposed change for a week-long Thanksgiving break with school starting three days later had 58 percent in favor of the change, 37 percent opposed, and 5 percent with no opinion.

Almost 40 percent are in favor of shifting from a semester to a trimester calendar. About 36 percent are opposed, and 27 percent reported no opinion.

46 percent are in favor of moving to a four-day school week with longer days, while 48 percent are opposed to the plan.

The Open House events are 6-7:30 p.m. and are open to the community.

Gruening Middle, 9601 Lee Street, Eagle River

Lake Otis Elementary, 3331 Lake Otis Pkwy.

South High, 13400 Elmore Road