BOE May Vote On Proposed Schedule June 24

The proposed bell schedule which involves a possible earlier bus pickup and longer instructional class periods in all Patchogue-Medford schools may be voted on at the June 24 Board of Education meeting, BOE president Thomas Donofrio said at Thursday’s special Board of Education meeting at South Ocean Middle School.

The proposal was presented in front of community members at a special Board of Education meeting at South Ocean Middle School in Patchogue, where community members gave a mix of opinions on the proposal. A follow up story recapping these opinions is posting to Patch soon.

Details of the proposal may change before the June 24th date, at which the Board of Education can either vote on the proposed schedule, an alternate schedule or not vote for any and keep things the same.

As previously reported, the proposal moves up bus arrival 15 minutes earlier for the high school and middle schools and 20 minutes earlier for elementary schools.

Current periods of down time, such as between bus arrival and first period on the high school level, are being reduced in the proposed schedule in order to allot more time in class.

The district website says that the proposed schedule is currently only a proposal, and that the Board of Education and district administration are looking for community input. The district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum Lori Cannetti said that residents can email feedback to her at lcannetti@pmschools.org.

A PDF of the proposed schedule posted on the district website can be viewed by clicking here. Also catch up with Patch's original reporting of the proposed changes by clicking here.

Check back to Patch for opinions from residents and Board of Education members from Thursday night’s meeting. 

The June 24 Board of Education meeting is scheduled to take place at South Ocean Middle School, with an initial public session that will likely go straight to executive at 6:30 p.m. returning to public session at 7:30 p.m.

What are your thoughts on the proposed schedule? Or if you attended the meeting, what did you feel about the discussion? Add your thoughts by typing in the comments section below.