Pender County Schools discuss 3 tier bell schedule, name for new K-8 school

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — The Pender County School Board is considering implementing a 3-tier bell schedule.

It was one of several topics the board discussed during its agenda meeting on Tuesday.

Under a three-tier bell schedule, elementary, middle, and high schools would start and end at staggered times.

This isn’t the first time the board has discussed making such a change.

The board approved a three-tier system in June 2023 but rejected the change a few days later due to negative feedback from parents.

Superintendent Brad Breedlove said the change would help more students get to class on time.

“Cutting down on any inconsistencies that we have with our late buses and that we normally have that could impact instruction, right?” Breedlove said. “The more late buses that you have, the more students you get to school late, missing out on instructional time.”

Breedlove said the district is still analyzing data to determine the optimal start time for various school levels.

Pender County school board members also discussed possible names for a new school under construction in Hampstead.

The K-through-8 campus will be located off Highway 210 and will provide much-needed classroom space for middle schoolers in this rapidly growing area of the county.

The school will serve more than 2,300 students.

The three names under consideration at this time are Hampstead Elementary and Hampstead Middle,  Hampstead Elementary and Topsail Middle, or Topsail Elementary and Topsail Middle school.

The district is currently seeking feedback from the public on the names, and they plan to select one soon.