Parents have mixed responses with Cheney School District changing start time next school year

July 7, 2022 6:03 PM

Peter Choi,

Posted: July 7, 2022 6:03 PM

Updated: July 8, 2022 11:53 AM

by Peter Choi

CHENEY, Wash. — If your child is attending a Cheney Public School, you might have to change your morning routine next year.

Schools within the district will be going to school at a different time than normal. This is due to a bus driver shortage.

If your kids attend @CheneySchools their sleep schedule may have to change. Check out these new schedules for next year. I talked to a parent who’s happy to hear this news. @kxly4news pic.twitter.com/7jd0f5OkF8

— Peter W. Choi 최원종 KXLY (@peterwjchoi) July 8, 2022

The school district will now open its certain schools at 8:50 a.m. every morning.

Amanda Evans had to wake up her three kids at 5 a.m. to get them to Windsor Elementary School on time. But now with this new change, Evans feels relief about the new start time.

“I know what to expect next year now versus last year,” Evans said. “It was kind of last-minute where it was like ‘Oh, by the way, we are now starting at 7:50.’ WHAT? Now I gotta make all the changes. It helps us prep for changes and gets my kids mentally ready that they don’t have to wake up at 5 in the morning anymore.”

Other parents are frustrated with the new change because of the extra money they might have to spend on daycare.

One student says he likes the previous start time better than the new one.

“It just gives us more time to finish up work instead of doing it at home,” Cheney High School student Rohan Adams said.

The district says the new schedule will serve the needs of students better.

“Our hope for the coming year is that the staggered start will function better for our students and provide the best opportunity for participating athletes and clubs,” Cheney Public Schools said in a statement.

“We are excited, and my sympathy goes to families who are going to be struggling,” Evans said. “Also, there are a lot of families who are going back to the way it used to be. Things are going normal again.”