Two Minooka schools to swap start times
By Kris Stadalsky For The Herald-News April 26, 2012 7:56AM
Updated: June 8, 2012 8:02AM
MINOOKA — New start and dismissal times for two schools in Minooka Grade School District shouldn’t take students much getting used to, but families need to be aware of the change.
Minooka Junior High and Minooka Intermediate will swap times next year, and will either start five minutes later or five minutes earlier.
The change is necessary because of traffic tie ups on McEvilly and Ridge roads during drop-off and pickup times, said Minooka Junior High Principal Shane Trager.
The two schools sit adjacent to each other. The intersection gets backed up in the morning with parents dropping of kids and people getting to work, as well as high school traffic just down the road.
Buses coming in off of Ridge Road can’t turn left into the school lot because of backed-up vehicles.
“There are six or eight buses sitting on Ridge Road and we don’t let our kids in until 7:15 a.m.,” Trager said. “You have stacks of buses, it’s dangerous.”
With the start of school in the fall, Minooka Intermediate School will start and dismiss five minutes earlier than this year and Minooka Junior High will start and dismiss five minutes later.
Bus routes and pickup times will not change, said Superintendent Al Gegenheimer.
Summer school dates set
Summer school and the district’s Jump Start program dates have been set by the board of education.
Summer school will be held from June 4 through June 22 this year.
The cost of the program is $50 per child, but anyone in need can apply for a waiver.
The Jump Start program, for students in grades 1-4 who want to get a jump on reading before school begins, will be Aug. 6-10.
