Students at Bedford High School can take up to eight courses a semester, with alternating four class days and 85- minute block scheduling.

The school board unanimously approved a basic schedule for Bedford High School Monday, Feb. 5. School start and end times are still being determined, but the school day will last 7 hours, 20 minutes.

The daily schedule also includes, after the first 85-minute class, a 15-minute advisory period and a 20-minute break.

A student’s eight courses would be split between even and odd class days. On Monday and Wednesday, even classes would meet. On Tuesday and Thursday, even classes would meet. And on Friday, even and odd would alternate each week.

“We believe the block schedule offers teachers and students the greatest opportunity for variety,” said Principal George Edwards.

Students may also take one less class, which would give them a free period, However, students could leave the school during that time, said Superintendent Tim Mayes.

Edwards and the planning team also presented an option of adding a fifth 85-minute period at the end of the day. School board members haven’t voted on the extra period yet.

“This might give students some additional flexibility on what their school day might be like and how they would be taking their courses,” Edwards said.

The extra period would let students cater their schedules around their lives outside of school. Some students might start earlier.

Other students, who don’t participate in after-school activities, might want to sleep later or take an early course at a community college.

Buses wouldn’t run for the later start and end times, Mayes said.

Board member Terry Wolf said she expected that parents wouldn’t like the possibility of some students coming to school later than others.

“But, the parents I’ve talked to think it’s absolutely wonderful.

It’s an option,” she said.

The approved high school schedule will also work with Manchester School of Technology class times, Edwards said.

School and bus times For the 2007-08 school year, the district will have six schools instead of the current four. So, bus schedules and school start times will change for the existing schools.

Mayes presented two options for school and bus start times to the school board.

One is Option J -- a more traditional schedule, with the middle and intermediate schools getting out earlier than elementary schools. This is better for parents who rely on their older children to watch younger children, Mayes said.

The other option -- Option K -- is a better overall option, Mayes said. By having earlier start times, this option takes into account the sleep habits of kindergartners to eighth-grade students, he said.

School board member David Sacks said the 7 a.m. start for elementary school bus pickup times would likely suit many parents.

Sacks said he would have a problem getting his children ready on time.

“We’re starting first grade in ‘07 and Option K would cause me to seek another place to live,” he joked.

The options Mayes presented were created with parent and staff feedback.

When planning started, Bedford principals were asked what their ideal school start and end times would be, and the results would have been too costly. Currently, the district uses 27 buses for all routes, and the ideal time schedule would require 55 buses.

Each bus will cost more than $38,000 to run next year.

The school time options presented will each require between 35 and 38 buses, Mayes said.

“If we can get a bus schedule where we’re using 38 buses instead of 55 buses, that’s a tremendous savings to the district,” he said.

Sacks said he would end up driving his children to school in the morning instead of struggling to get them to the bus stop for 7 a.m.

Mayes said much of the timing of buses is based on estimates for how many eligible students will ride, and won’t likely be altered after the school year starts.

“You don’t know the exact answer until you actually do it,” he said.

The school board will vote on start times and bus routes in mid-March, he said.