BOX ELDER COUNTY - By Cari Doutre - May 21, 2021
A big decision was made by Box Elder School District’s Board of Education earlier this week but after some feedback from the community the issue in question is back on the table and up for discussion.
Members of the Box Elder School Board of Education held a virtual special school board meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, to discuss and vote on a proposed 30-minute late start and release time to the school day for elementary and secondary schools starting with the 2021-22 school year.
Students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Box Elder School District for the 2021-22 school year will also officially return to full-day instruction – something they haven’t experienced since October 2020.
The time topic of a time change to the school day was addressed via email to parents, students and teachers on May 10, 2021. The school district sought input on this proposed time change in the form of an online survey that was included in the email.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, Box Elder School District Superintendent Steve Carlsen presented the board with his thoughts and recommendations while getting input from board members.
A copy of Carlsen’s recommendations (found in full below) were posted on Box Elder School District's website with the meeting’s agenda. Also posted is an audio recording of the meeting. Both can be found at Box Elder School District (besd.net)
In addition to the 30-minute start and release times, starting next year all elementary and secondary schools will have a one-hour late start on Wednesdays for students. Elementary schools will no longer have one-hour early out days.
On Friday, May 21, a letter (found below) from the school district was released from Carlsen seeking additional input from the community on this topic. The Board of Education is having a virtual Special Board Meeting (virtual) on Tuesday, May 25, at 12 p.m. for the community.
"This will allow ample time for the Board and staff to be able to read those thoughts and ideas," the later stated as addressed from Carlsen.
"I know emotions have run high with this discussion topic. The Board Members have heard your concerns and wish to hear more. This is a perfect example of how the system is supposed to work," Carlsen added.
Input is requested to be sent via email prior to Tuesday's meeting. Go to www.besd.net and click on the SCHOOL BOARD tab for a list of the Box Elder School District Board of Education members' email addresses and precincts or find that information. It is also posted in full below.
It’s been more than a year since the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic began, interrupting the way education traditionally once was for students throughout the world. While individual states, counties and government set their own restrictions and guidelines during the pandemic, Utah schools returned to in-person learning last fall with their own guidelines and restrictions.
Box Elder School District then announced that they would begin a one-hour late start for all schools that started October 29, 2020. It will remain that way through the end of the 2020-21 school year on June 4, 2021.
That change was made to allow teachers additional prep time for the added workload they have acquired while accommodating students participating in online learning instruction during the pandemic and in-person.
Box Elder School District Board of Education
Tiffani Summers, Vice President - Precinct 1
Connie Archibald - Precinct 2
Wade Hyde - Precinct 3
Julie Taylor, President - Precinct 4
Nancy Kennedy - Precinct 5
Bryan Smith - Precinct 6
Karen Cronin - Precinct 7
2021-22 Box Elder School District (northern county schools) schedule:
BEAR RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
BEAR RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
ALICE C. HARRIS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:25 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:25 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:35 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:35 a.m. to 3 p.m.
GARLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
FIELDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri - 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
