The Eanes Independent School District will be changing start and end times for some students after the winter break, beginning with the new semester in 2016. The changes are a result of the recently passed Texas House Bill 2610, which modifies the requirement that public school students receive at least 180 days of instruction to students receiving at least 75,600 minutes of instruction.
To meet the new requirements, Eanes ISD issued a statement detailing its options, such as adding school days in June, shortening Spring Break, or changing school times. The district “concluded that adjusting daily school times was the least disruptive solution” in the short term, although how to meet the minute requirement in future years “will require more discussion by administration and the District Leadership Team, which consists of staff and parents.”
The main change is that starting with the new semester on January 5, 2016, all elementary schools will add 10 minutes to the school day. Additionally, all middle schools and high schools will have the same amount of school time but will start and end five minutes later to accommodate bus scheduling. The delay includes bus schedules for middle and high school students, which will run five minutes later for pick-up and drop-off. Bus schedules for elementary school students will run at the same time for pick-up, with drop-off 10 minutes later for Eanes Elementary School students and five minutes later for all other elementary schools.
The new start and end times for Eanes ISD schools, beginning January 5, 2016:
Barton Creek Elementary: 7:40 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Bridge Point Elementary: 7:40 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Cedar Creek Elementary: 7:40 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Eanes Elementary: 7:35 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Forest Trail Elementary: 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Valley View Elementary: 7:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
Hill Country Middle School: 8:30 a.m. to 3:57 p.m.
West Ridge Middle School: 8:30 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.
Westlake High School: 8:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.