Jackson could extend school day by up to 20 minutes

Many Jackson School District students will start their day a little earlier and end their day a little later next year if the school board approves changes to the secondary school schedule.

The board discussed, but did not finalize, start and stop times for the middle school, junior high school and high school students, said Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent of the district.

The biggest change will be for Jackson High School students, who will see their day lengthened by up to 20 minutes, Anderson said. Students at the high school currently start their day at 8:05 a.m. and end at 2:55 p.m. Those times, if current plans hold up, would change to 7:55 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., he said. At the other grade levels, the changes will be smaller, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes, he said. No changes are planned in the daily routine at the district's elementary schools, he said.

The revisions are necessary to accommodate proposed school bus schedules and the logistical needs of the high school addition that will open next year, Anderson said.

"We need to adjust the time schedule at the high school to accommodate the new facility," Anderson said. "This would be the time necessary to meet their needs."

Some staff at the secondary school level is shared between buildings, and the extra time will allow that function to take place in a smoother manner, Anderson said.

He wasn't sure whether all the extra time would be devoted to instruction or whether some might be used to lengthen lunch periods or other time periods set aside when students are not in the classroom.

"All these things come into play," he said.

In other action, the board appointed Anderson and board member Brent Wills to the commission that will oversee the Jackson Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, district.

The commission hears the needs of developers and recommends how to use tax revenue set aside for development to support economic expansion. The final decisions are made by the city board of aldermen.

The TIF district is focused on the area adjoining Interstate 55 from East Main Street to Center Junction.

While a TIF district can create issues for the school district's revenue stream, Anderson said he is sensitive to the needs of the city to add jobs and businesses.

"The statute provides we have representation in the plan," Anderson said. "We, philosophically, have worked in concert with the city. Our philosophy is to help prime the pump."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

Does this affect you?

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com/today