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Schools to start at new times

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By RONNIE BLAIR

rblair@tampatrib.com

Published: May 23, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Starting times will change for more than half the public schools in Pasco County come August.

In most cases, the changes represent a 5- or 10-minute difference in when the school day begins. For example, many elementary schools that now start at either 9:30 or 9:35 a.m. will switch to a 9:40 a.m. start time for the 2009-10 academic year.

Students at three schools, though - Oakstead Elementary, Irvin Education Center and Gulf Middle - will experience a significant change in their schedules.

Oakstead, which starts the day at 8:40 a.m., will shift to a 9:40 a.m. start. The school day will end at 3:50 p.m.

Irvin Education Center and Gulf Middle students, meanwhile, will need to set their clocks earlier.

Irvin, which now begins the day at 8:15 a.m., will change to a 7:35 a.m. start. The school day at Irvin will end at 1:45 p.m.

Gulf Middle has been starting at 8:40 a.m., but will move to a 7:40 a.m. start and end the day at 1:55 p.m.

The Pasco County School Board approved the new starting times this week. Assistant Superintendent Ray Gadd said the time changes are expected to help the school district save money by consolidating some school bus routes.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 259-7065.

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