New bell times set for Dist. 300 schools

Community Unit District 300 schools Friday announced which elementary schools will follow the "A" or "B" bell-time schedules, effective with the start of the next school year.

The staggered start times were created to provide greater efficiencies for Durham School Services, which provides bus service. By staggering elementary school start times, Durham has the flexibility to use one bus to get students to two nearby schools.

The elementary "A" schedule will start at 8 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. Under this schedule, morning kindergarten will be from 8 to 10:45 a.m. and afternoon kindergarten will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. These 11 elementary schools will be on the "A" schedule: Algonquin Lakes, Eastview, Wright, Gilberts, Golfview, Hampshire, Liberty, Lincoln Prairie, Neubert, Parkview and Sleepy Hollow.

The "B" schedule will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. Under this schedule, morning kindergarten will be 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. and afternoon kindergarten will be from noon to 2:45 p.m.

These five elementary schools will be on the "B" schedule in the coming school year: Dundee Highlands, Lake in the Hills, Meadowdale, Perry and Westfield Community School.

However, on Fridays only, Perry Elementary will follow this schedule: 8:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., with morning kindergarten from 8:20 to 11:15 a.m. and afternoon kindergarten from noon to 1:20 p.m.

Bell times for Lakewood School, which has fifth- and sixth-grade classes, will be 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

All middle schools will start and end 25 minutes earlier beginning next school year. The middle schools will start at 8:45 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.

Schedules for all high schools will remain the same.