Superintendent says majority of survey respondents favor keeping Klay County start times; board to decide on waiver

Superintendent Broski told the board on March 5 that the district’s user survey on proposed changes to school start times drew about 17,000 responses and that roughly 82% favored maintaining the current schedule (Option A). Broski said state law requires districts that change grade-ordering to apply for a waiver and that the district’s survey and workshop process is part of that waiver consideration.

Broski described the waiver as a one-time application and emphasized that any final decision rests with the board. He noted practical constraints—particularly bus-driver availability and route sequencing—that factor into whether a district can implement a different start-time configuration without substantial additional cost or added routes.

Public commenters and some parents said later school dismissals create evening burdens for families and safety concerns for elementary students waiting at early-morning bus stops; others argued later high-school start times benefit adolescent sleep. The board said it will review survey results and workshop input before deciding whether to seek a waiver.