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Board discusses state school‑start time mandate and two district planning options for 2026–27
Summary
Transportation staff briefed the board on a Florida statute that would prohibit middle schools starting before 8:00 a.m. and high schools before 8:30 a.m. for 2026–27; trustees asked staff to publish planning options now and urged parents to contact legislators about the proposal.
Hernando County’s director of transportation told the school board that a state statute passed in 2023 would, if left unchanged, require middle school instructional days to start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high school instructional days no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for the 2026–27 school year. The board reviewed two routing and bell‑time options presented by a transportation consulting firm and discussed the likely impact on families, after‑school activities and athletics.
Ralph Leath, the district’s director of transportation, said the workshop was intended to inform parents and the public because state legislators are still considering bills that would amend or repeal the mandated latest start times. He said the district has no control over the statute itself and must plan for the possibility…
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