Milton Elementary start, end times to be earlier in 2019

Milton Elementary students will start the school day a little earlier next year.

For the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, Milton Elementary students will move into the old H.O. Brittingham building, currently unoccupied, while Milton Elementary undergoes renovations.

Citing transportation as a concern with two schools on the same site, Cape Superintendent Bob Fulton proposed changes to start and end times for Milton Elementary to relieve traffic congestion.

Fulton told school board members Jan. 24 that school officials knew the temporary change would be needed for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

“We knew we’d have to stagger times,” said Fulton, who added that officials decided to back up start and end times for Milton Elementary so students are not in school past 4 p.m.

“Milton Elementary can go earlier for two years, and then everyone goes back to the regular times,” he said.

Under the proposed change, existing bus routes would remain in place for Milton Elementary students; pick-up and drop-off times would just be 20 minutes earlier. Milton Elementary walkers could be bused to H.O.B.

“It’s a longer walk, and may be within a mile, but it’s a long walk near the pond, and we would like to provide transportation to them as well,” Fulton said. “We have no doubt we can make this work.”

H.O.B. Principal Ned Gladfelter said the Boys & Girls Club before- and after-school program for Milton Elementary and H.O.B. students would be at H.O.B. next year. A sidewalk will join the two schools, he said.

Under proposed new times, Milton Elementary students may be dropped off by parents between 8:10 and 8:25 a.m., and buses will discharge students at 8:25 a.m. Students will be dismissed for the day at 3:35 p.m.

Fulton said with about 400 or so students each, the two schools are smaller than other district elementary schools, making the temporary transition easier.