Harrisonburg schools propose 10-minute longer elementary day for 2025-26 to equalize instructional time

Harrisonburg City Public Schools staff proposed adding 10 minutes to the elementary school day for the 2025-26 school year, moving hours from 9:10 a.m.–3:25 p.m. to 9:05 a.m.–3:30 p.m., to reduce disparities in instructional minutes between elementary and secondary schools and to lessen the need for make-up time after weather closures.

The proposal, presented by Doctor Blosser, Chief Officer for Instruction, follows an elementary-staff survey in which 281 respondents answered whether they supported adding time; 80% supported adding time and 93% of those respondents selected a 10-minute increase as their preferred option. The administration said the change would restore part of instructional time reduced after COVID and address the fact that elementary schools currently have roughly 350 instructional minutes versus about 360 for middle and high schools.

School officials said the district has discussed start- and end-time logistics with transportation staff. Because most elementary runs are double runs, some buses would need to arrive as early as 8:35 a.m. to complete a second route and still meet a 9:05 a.m. start for elementary schools. Staff said they would attempt to limit the earliest arrival times to only those buses that require them, with students arriving earlier kept in supervised common spaces (for example, cafeteria or gym) until doors open to all students at about 8:40 a.m.

Board members pressed staff on implementation details. Board member Miss Laughlin and others noted family and teacher convenience and asked whether the district should solicit parent feedback; staff said principals and teachers have been involved and that staff could notify families and solicit input before the May 20 work session, where the board could vote. Transportation staff said the district routinely lists driver openings on the city website; board discussion cited an internal figure of about 21 drivers needed to eliminate double runs, but staff said they would verify the exact number of current vacancies.

Next steps: staff requested board approval to place the proposal on the May 20 work session agenda for a vote. If approved, principals would finalize master schedules to incorporate the change and the district would communicate details to staff and families.

Why it matters: Board members described the change as relatively small but important for parity across grade levels and for reducing the disproportionate need to make up missed instructional time at elementary schools.