Sequim schools drop proposal to bump back start time

Survey respondents prefer to keep Greywolf Elementary at 8:30 a.m.

SEQUIM — Sequim’s youngest students won’t have to set their alarm clocks back next school year.

Sequim School District leaders in recent weeks floated the idea of moving back start times at Greywolf Elementary School from its current start time of 8:30 a.m. to about 8 a.m. and release time from 3 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., but after seeing results of a survey, administrators declined to bring a proposal to the district’s board of directors.

“We can see the challenges definitely outweigh the improvements,” Sequim School District Superintendent Regan Nickels said at the board’s June 3 meeting.

Nickels said the time shift was being contemplated because school officials noted a significant number of parents were taking advantage of being able to drop off their students before the standard start time at the Carlsborg school.

Greywolf currently serves about 450 students in grades kindergarten, first and second grade. The school served students in K-5 from its opening in 1992 until the 2023-24 school year, when the district’s two elementary schools were reconfigured; Helen Haller Elementary is now home to the district’s students in grades three through five.

Getting the youngest students onto buses first also was a consideration, Nickels said.

However, in a survey reportedly completed by about 250 respondents, feelings were mixed about whether the schedule shift would be beneficial, Nickels said.

Asked if an 8 a.m. start time made things easier for a family, between 10 to 15 percent said yes while double that number said no.

Asked if they support an 8 a.m. opening at Greywolf with other schools keeping their current start times, about 40 percent said no, about 33 percent said yes, and the remaining respondents were split between either needing more information and the change having no impact on their family.

Board director Michael Rocha asked if the survey was able to gauge why respondents were against an earlier start time.

Nickels said the questionnaire did pose some open-ended questions, and that most respondents alluded to transportation and daycare issues.

Nickels told board directors it might be worth conveying the benefits of this earlier start time to those on the fence, but they would not at this point get a recommendation from administrators to vote on a change.

“We will continue to discuss this,” she said, “but we will not be implementing this, this [next school] year.”

Other board action

School board directors unanimously agreed to shift some capital projects levy funds to cover replacement of failing clock and intercom systems at Helen Haller Elementary and Sequim Middle School.

Directors also agreed on a board meeting calendar for the 2024-25 school year, with two regular meetings scheduled per month expect for December and July.

________

Michael Dashiell is the editor of the Sequim Gazette of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which also is composed of other Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum. Reach him at michael.dashiell@sequimgazette.com.

More in News

From left, Mercedes Sunshine Shimko and Hudson Soelter.
Club grows local scholarships

The Port Angeles Garden Club awarded five area students… Continue reading

Ian Mason of Edgewood, an employee of Titan Earthworks, hammers a brick paver into place at the corner of First and Oak streets in downtown Port Angeles on Wednesday as part of a project to replace and repair sidewalks and curbs across the city. Included are the installation of improved wheelchair ramps, replacement of overgrown trees and numerous street corner repairs. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Sidewalk repairs

Ian Mason of Edgewood, an employee of Titan Earthworks, hammers a brick… Continue reading

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe members gather by the Elwha River to hold a ceremony in support of a petition to protect forests in the Elwha River Watershed. (John Gussman)
Groups advocate for timber cancellation

Water, environment center of concerns

Jefferson hears possible floodplains changes

New development standards, compliance and enforcement in updated code

Crews to trim tree limbs in Blyn

Maintenance workers from the state Department of Transportation will be… Continue reading

EYE ON BUSINESS: This week’s meetings

Meetings on Wednesdays at the student-run… Continue reading

Election security measures in place

Fire suppressant just one example

Ruby Speer, 3, of Port Angeles receives a treat from KaraLee Monroe of Kindred Collective as part of Thursday’s Halloween festivities in downtown Port Angeles. Hundreds of youngsters and adults made their way door-to-door in search of candy and other treasures. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Trick or treat in Port Angeles

Ruby Speer, 3, of Port Angeles receives a treat from KaraLee Monroe… Continue reading

Karen Huber, sister of Nash Huber, the owner of Nash’s Organic Produce, stands by large crates that hold various seeds that Nash sells to farmers. She said she’s mitigated alleged violations and concerns from property owner, Washington Land Trust, but the longtime farmer faces eviction from the property if he doesn’t comply with ending his lease agreement that goes through 2032. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Washington Farmland Trust could evict Dungeness farmer

Nash Huber helped preserve Delta Farm in 1999

Amy Seidewand chair making. (Lacey Carnahan)
Port Townsend Woodworkers Show ready for the weekend

Event dedicated to memory of woodworking pillar

Two ghosts dangle from a tree in the breeze in the 200 block of West 10th street in Port Angeles. Halloween events are scheduled today throughout the North Olympic Peninsula. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ghostly visions

Two ghosts dangle from a tree in the breeze in the 200… Continue reading