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Board chair Sheila Daniels outlines start times, phone rules, Legacy Academy and districtwide adoption of Choose Love
Summary
At the district convocation, Board Chair Sheila Daniels acknowledged budget strains and announced several operational changes for the new school year: a reversion to the district's prior start/end times, a tightened no-phone policy, the opening of a new Legacy Academy, and districtwide participation in the Jesse Lewis "Choose Love" program.
Board Chair Sheila Daniels announced a set of district priorities at the Middletown School District convocation, telling staff the board and administration will prioritize student relationships as the year begins.
Daniels, speaking to assembled teachers, administrators and support staff, said the board is "especially pleased to see that the school day is reverting to the old start and end times" and that the administration "has tightened the no phone policy regulations." She also introduced a new Legacy Academy intended to serve students who need an alternative setting and said the district is joining the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement across all schools.
Why it matters: changes to bell schedules and device policies affect daily routines for students, families and staff. Reverting to former start and end times can alter transportation plans and after-school supervision. A tightened no-phone policy will affect classroom management and the communication norms teachers and students follow.
Daniels acknowledged budget constraints that limited full attendance at the convocation and said community partners and presenters — including the keynote speaker — helped the district manage costs this year. "I wanna acknowledge...our budget impacts today's convocation causing some of you to not be here with us all in one location," she said while thanking a keynote speaker for waiving part of her fee.
Superintendent Dr. Alberto Vasquez Matos, who spoke earlier in the program about the district's theme of "joy, compassion and love," framed these operational steps as part of the broader aim to strengthen student belonging and social-emotional supports. Mayor Gene Nacera also offered public praise for educators and urged attendees to keep supporting students and families.
Next steps: Daniels and district leaders did not specify rollout timelines for each change during the convocation. Staff and families should expect follow-up communications from central office with detailed schedules, policy guidance and implementation dates. The convocation concluded with dismissal by school and direction from event staff about bus staging and next steps.
