Orange County (Fla.) district will return to old school schedule

From The Orlando Sentinel: The Orange County (Fla.) School Board has decided to return to an old class schedule that starts high schools early and middle schools later. The decision affirms the board's reversal of a schedule change put in place this year to save millions of dollars. The unpopular change, known as the flip, sent middle school children to school around 7:30 a.m.; high school students started classes around 9 a.m. Now the district will revert to the original schedule despite evidence that the new schedule saves money and is more efficient. Staff reports show that the new schedule has saved the district at least $4.3 million in operating costs and is expected to save millions more in the future. Officials estimate that putting the old one back in place will cost more than $5 million.

FROM MAY 2008: About 100 students and a few parents gathered outside the headquarters of Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools, marching, waving signs, chanting slogans and demanding that School Board members reverse their decision to swap high-school and middle-school schedules. Starting this fall, high schools will begin about 9:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. or later. Middle schools, on the other hand, will start and end earlier; from about 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Opponents say the change will hurt busy, high-achieving students with lots of activities, as well as students who have jobs after school. (Orlando Sentinel)