How will a split-shift affect families, athletes, and teachers?
In trying to schedule over 2,100 students in four different buildings, there is no guarantee that every child in the same family will be on the same shift. An older sibling in the high school who watches a younger Elementary School sibling after school may not be able to meet those obligations. It is possible for the high school to be placed in the morning schedule and the elementary sibling attend the afternoon/evening shift. At the middle and high school levels, students participating in sports activities may be assigned to the early shift. Non-athletes may be the first students assigned to the late shift. Split-shifts require a second set of teachers, cooks, bus drivers, school secretaries, administrators, and an additional school nurse. Maintenance work then must be done after 8:00 p.m. and before 5:30 a.m. Running two shifts shortens the life span of school buildings. Most importantly, the district has been suffering from higher turnover rates because of less competitive salaries.
