Administrators presented a proposal on Jan. 13 to change Sandhope Early College’s daily schedule from an 8:30 a.m. start to a 9:00 a.m. start with a 4:00 p.m. dismissal beginning next school year.

The proposal, introduced by Speaker 11 and developed with instructional input from Speaker 7, is intended to align Sandhope Early College with Sandhills Community College’s start times, reduce downtime between college and high‑school classes, and preserve student access to Hope County High athletics. Speaker 11 said community feedback and staff input influenced the revised plan and that the change "maintains the integrity of the early college program" while addressing family and transportation concerns.

Transportation director Speaker 12 described how buses would be re‑tiered so early college students ride dedicated routes that arrive directly at the college campus. "We're going to have them aligned on their own tier," Speaker 12 said, adding that students would be picked up at home and taken directly to Sandhills Community College so they arrive by 9:00 a.m. The plan is intended to shorten student travel time and avoid conflicts with elementary and high‑school bell schedules.

Board members asked that administration return after the first year of implementation with a brief review to verify the transportation plan and student outcomes are working as intended. Speaker 1 asked staff to provide a summary next school year about whether the plan met objectives and how transportation performed.

What’s next: The schedule change was presented as a proposal; implementation requires final board approval and will be monitored after rollout with transportation adjustments and follow‑up reporting.