By Heather Bell
RADFORD – The Radford City School Board is considering a late start time twice a week for elementary school students next school year in order to provide teachers with additional planning time.
The Board heard from teachers and parents regarding the potential change at its recent school board meeting, held March 7. The issue is listed under the Superintendent’s Report portion of the upcoming school board meeting, set for Tuesday, March 21 at 6 p.m., which means it is not currently listed as an action item that will be voted on.
If the change is approved, students at McHarg and Belle Heth elementary schools would not start the school day until 10:15 a.m. (tardy bell time) two days per week. Ending times would remain the same each day.
Kindergarten teacher Lindsay Lesko appeared before the board in support of the change, saying her mental health has been negatively affected trying to keep up with all the requirements of today’s teaching world without adequate planning time during the school day, leading to her having to work outside her contract hours, including many nights and weekends.
“The two delayed starts for uninterrupted planning time and collaboration would be utilized in so many ways to give our best to the kids we love,” she said.
Melissa Jarrells, president of the McHarg PSA, emailed the school board to say while she thinks the extra planning time would be useful to teachers, she has concerns about the change because younger children thrive with a consistent schedule. She also expressed concern for working families who would have to deal with the differentiated start times.
“There are hundreds of families that would be affected by this change,” she wrote.
Parent Megan Martin echoed Jarrells concerns via email, and kindergarten teacher Nicole Watson expressed her support for the time change via email.
Board Member Chris Calfee said he supports the teachers and their needs, but is concerned that, especially for the youngest students, they will be missing out on the early part of the school day when they are sharpest and ready to learn. He also expressed concern that working families would be negatively affected.
“How many families would be affected?” he asked. “We don’t know, because we didn’t ask.”
Calfee asked that a survey be put out to families. The administration released a survey on March 9 and gave the public until March 16 to respond, so the survey window has already closed.
Superintendent Robert Graham said if the change is made, the school division will provide a morning program for students who need to be dropped off earlier.