Pearl River Middle School Moves Up Start Time

Pearl River Middle School will begin and end its days 15 minutes earlier this year.

The new bell schedule can be found here, with the day starting with homeroom at 7:45 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m.

The changes were made to create more time between the end of the classes at Pearl River Middle School and dismissal at the Pearl River School District's elementary schools. The middle school buses are used at the elementary schools, so this makes it less likely that a delay at the middle school would leave elementary school students waiting.

"The buses from the middle school pick up children at the elementary schools," Pearl River Middle School Principal Maria Paese said. "When the buses ran late here, the elementary school kids were sitting around and waiting."

Reminders went out to parents in the spring and over the summer.

"I think it's going to be a matter of getting everybody used to it," Paese said. "I know 15 minutes doesn't sound like a long time, but some people need that 15 minutes. 

"A lot of people feel it's great. The 2:30 dismissal time gives some people a better cushion in the afternoon."