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Silver Creek superintendent proposes 20-minute later high school and middle school start times, ends Wednesday early dismissals and waiver days
Summary
Administration proposed shifting start and drop-off times by 20 minutes for middle and high school, adjusting elementary/primary schedules, eliminating early Wednesday dismissals and replacing isolated waiver days with regular weekly professional development for staff.
Dr. Briggs presented a proposal to change school start and end times beginning with the 2026-27 school year that would delay middle- and high-school student start times by about 20 minutes and adjust primary and elementary schedules to create regular staff professional-development and prep time.
Under the plan presented, Silver Creek Primary would shift from 8:20 a.m.-3:00 p.m. to 8:40 a.m.-3:20 p.m., with earliest drop-off changing from 7:50 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. The elementary school day would move from 8:20 a.m.-3:10 p.m. to 8:40 a.m.-3:20 p.m., with earliest drop-off changing from 7:40 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Middle school currently at 7:40 a.m.-2:25 p.m. would move to a proposed 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with earliest drop-off changing from 7:05 a.m. to 7:25 a.m. High school would move from 7:40 a.m.-2:25 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with earliest drop-off changing from 7:00 a.m. to 7:20 a.m.
Dr. Briggs said the changes are intended to meet three goals: later start times for middle- and high-school students; consistent, ongoing professional development and additional dedicated prep time for teachers; and a consistent five-day-a-week schedule for families instead of intermittent waiver days and early-dismissal Wednesdays. The proposal would remove the three waiver days currently used for professional development and eliminate the practice of early dismissals on Wednesdays, replacing those with weekly scheduled collaboration and professional-learning time built into the school day.
Dr. Briggs said staff and family surveys in 2022 and 2023 showed mixed responses and that the district had previously secured three waiver days from the Indiana Department of Education; the proposal is intended to give families a consistent weekly schedule and provide more regular professional development for staff. She told the board the administration will post the proposal to the district website and distribute it via ParentSquare, invite questions by email (asking parents to copy their child's principal), and return to the board for further consideration at an upcoming meeting.
No board vote was taken; Dr. Briggs asked the board to consider the proposal and said the administration will return with timing and recommended next steps if the board chooses to take a vote.
