T-R photo by Trevor Babcock Board member Mike Miller (right) discusses a proposal to implement a staggered start and bell time with Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte (left).

In preparation for 100 percent in-person learning on Feb. 16, the Marshalltown Community School Board discussed implementing a staggered start time and bell schedule between secondary and elementary students at the regular meeting Monday night.

Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte said the biggest challenge in the transition to 100 percent in-person learning is providing consistent social distancing of 3 to 6 feet.

“It will essentially be an impossibility on our buses with ridership nearly doubling,” Schutte said.

The proposed staggered start would change the school day for Lenihan Intermediate School, Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School to 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. and elementary schools to 8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., aiming to allow the district to use more buses to transport fewer students to maintain social distancing.

The motion failed with a tie vote of three to three. Board members Janis McGinnis, Bea Niblock and Nicolas Aguirre voted in favor. Sara Faltys, Sean Heitmann and Mike Miller voted against. Board member Karina Hernandez was not present.

“It’s too much change, done too fast, for too little benefit,” Miller said, explaining he heard the same opinion voiced by parents and teachers.

Miller also said students on a staggered start time schedule would arrive at the same building regardless.

“We are doing it because we want to improve social distancing,” Miller said. “But as soon as they get to school they’re going to be with all the kids they were gonna be with, so I don’t get what we’re really accomplishing by separating on the bus, and then sitting them like normal at school.”

Schutte said social distancing on buses would be an extension of social distancing in school buildings, but due to the doubled capacity of students in the building the district would have to develop creative ways to maintain social distance.

Schutte said the school board would not normally make decisions to school start times in the middle of the school year, but felt action was necessary due to Gov. Kim Reynolds requiring districts to offer an in-person learning option.

“We’ve had to really move quickly on what, if anything, further we can do to try to continue to mitigate the potential spread of the virus,” Schutte said. “The reality is that not a lot has changed.”

As the motion failed, Schutte committed to continuing to provide a safe learning environment for students.

“I recognize the challenges with change and we will gladly accept the board’s decision regarding this, despite what we think is necessary in order to provide a safe school environment,” Schutte said.

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Contact Trevor Babcock at 641-753-6611

or tbabcock@timesrepublican.com.