DD2 asks for feedback on bell schedule in online survey

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCIV) -- In the two weeks since Dorchester District 2 officials asked for the community's feedback on a new proposed bell schedule, they also launched an online survey to tally results.

The survey can be found here:

It is available until May 29.

On May 12, the Board of Trustees approved the collection of feedback from community members. DD2 principals presented the plan at a Board of Education hearing, and asked for the help of the Board of Trustees to share the new plan with the schools' communities.

The plan was developed out of the need to resolve long waits for some high school students who sometimes wait more than an hour for the school day to start. Superintendent Joseph Pye referenced the research and national trends regarding start times for older students.

District leaders also said the change to the bell schedule would improve the transportation schedule. Officials said the current bus schedule allows for only 45 minutes for buses to get students to school and get the next grade's routes. That problem is made worse by the lack on state-provided buses and the growing numbers of students in the district, officials said Monday night.

The new proposal claims to increase the transition time between grade levels while addressing the largest population of riders, elementary students, exclusively and first.