Delayed Start Time Added to 14 Days on OSD Calendar

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

School will start about two hours later on 14 Mondays next year for all Oxford schools to allow professional development for teachers.

According to a press release from the OSD Friday, after the Mississippi State Board of Education named the OSD a “District of Innovation,” that allowed the school district flexibility in adding additional teacher professional development opportunities during the school day, rather than at the end of school day.

The district has added 14 late arrival days on Mondays on the 2019-2020 academic calendar.

Buses will still run during their regular schedule on those mornings; however, classes will not begin for about two hours into the school day. Parents who drive their children to school can bring their child to school at the later time or earlier.

Cafeterias will operate on their regular schedule providing breakfast on the normal schedule. Students who arrive early – at the regular school start time – will remain under supervision until classes start.

The delayed start is roughly 1 hour and 50 minutes.

During the March 25 Board of Trustee meeting, Superintendent Brian Harvey said that a few years ago the district tried closing early on several Wednesdays throughout the school year to allow for professional development training.

“We ended that after a year,” he said during the meeting. “We didn’t do it well and having it at the end of the day was not very effective. However, we desperately need the time to conduct professional development moving forward. We have to give teachers time during the day to grow professionally.”

As the bell schedule is finalized for next year, exact start times will be communicated to parents/guardians.

View the amended 2019-2020 academic calendar here.