Bryden Elementary Day Change Still Under Study

may not extend the Bryden Elementary School day as dramatically as Superintendent Rich Markwardt said at Monday’s Board meeting.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we found the day was extended by something,” he said. “But I would hazard a guess that I would be surprised if it were 40 or 50 minutes earlier, and we don’t see it to be an after-school extension.”

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Markwardt showed the board a proposed schedule change at a school board meeting last month in conjunction with changes the district may make to the busing routes.

The high school and middle school students may ride the bus together, and the high school start time could be a few minutes earlier.

But all these changes were part of a proposal, Markwardt stressed, and the district is still exploring its options.

Jessica Venditti has two children, one at now and one entering Bryden in the 2013-2014 school year.

She spoke during the meeting. “I think maybe we need to try hard to make sure when we’re making this decision we’re striking the balance between enough instructional time, but children also need, especially at that young age, unstructured time: time with families, time to do a chore, play in the back yard, walk their dog or take a dance class. I think an extra 50 minutes is a big chunk out of time for that small child.”

Markwardt said that he talked with administrators today about the proposal.

“I can assure you that if starting the day 50 minutes earlier means that there are just extra recesses or more repetition of what’s being done then that’s not going to happen,” he said.

He said that he will be taking input from the district’s principals and studying the issue more before making a final schedule Aug. 1.

“We’re looking at it from a holistic sense. We’re looking at what we can do to create a learning environment for kids and what package that best fits in.”

“I kind of feel like if it’s not broke, then maybe we shouldn’t fix it,” said Venditti. “And I think Beachwood Schools are working really well and I know I feel like my child could have a great education this year.”

The schedule itself does not require a board vote, said Markwardt, but it will be printed in the Student Handbook, which the Board will approve as a whole before the start of the school year.

Watch Beachwood Patch for the schedule next week.

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