New Bell Times Set For 10 Pasco County Schools

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — Students at eight schools across Pasco County will have to set their clocks a little differently when the 2017-18 academic year gets under way next fall. The Pasco County School Board on Tuesday approved changes to their schedules along with start and end times for two new campuses.

According to the school district, the following campuses will have new bell times in 2017-18:

• Anclote High School – Students will start class at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m. This is a change from the 7:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. schedule the school currently follows. The later start time is meant to accommodate the opening of the Cambridge Education program.
• Chasco Middle School – Classes will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m. The change from an 8:40 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. schedule was requested by the principal to add minutes to the school day.
• Fox Hollow Elementary – Students here will begin their day at 9:40 a.m. with an end time of 4:20 p.m. The change affects only the K-5 students. The change from the 9:40 to 3:50 schedule was made to add extra minutes to the day.
• Land O’ Lakes High – The new bell schedule will have students in class from 7:25 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. The five-minute earlier start time was added to give kids extra time to pass between classes due to construction.
• River Ridge Middle and High – The school day will run from 7:25 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. at both schools. This is a change from this year’s 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. schedule. The slight adjustment is meant to assist with bus timing.
• Charles S. Rushe Middle School – Students here will begin their day at 7:25 a.m. and end at 1:40 p.m. This is a change from the current 8:40 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. schedule. The much earlier schedule was requested to “balance routes associated with the opening of the district’s new transportation garage and compressed natural gas filling station in Odessa,” the district explained in a media release.
• Paul R. Smith Middle School – The new schedule will have kids in class from 8:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. This is a change from the 8:38 a.m. to 2:52 p.m. schedule now followed. The change was prompted by the addition of the Cambridge Education program.
• Wiregrass Ranch High – Students here will have classes from 7:25 a.m. to 1:56 p.m. The change is “from dual bell times associated with the 10-period day,” the district wrote. The opening of Cypress Creek Middle/High School in August puts Wiregrass back on a normal schedule.

As for the two new schools, their start and end times are as follows:

• Bexley Elementary – 9:40 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
• Cypress Cree Middle/High – 7:25 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

To read the full list of approved bell times, visit the school district’s website.

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