GOWRIE — Students in the Southeast Valley Community School District will be starting school five minutes earlier and ending each day five minutes later for the 2025-2026 school year.

The goal, according to Superintendent Brian Johnson, is to allow students and staff to end the year before Memorial Day while also being advantageous to student learning.

Students in all four of the district’s schools will now begin the day at 8:25 a.m. and will end each day at 3:35 p.m.

The district made the announcement to students and parents last week.

“This change is part of our ongoing efforts to improve transportation efficiency, align with district policy, and support student well-being,” the district said in an email.

The district is also doing away with early outs each Wednesday for professional development. On Wednesdays, classes will now dismiss at 3:35 p.m. like all other days of the week.

With the change, professional development days will be scattered throughout the year and placed at the end of the first and second trimesters, as well as one day per month after the first of the year.

“These days were strategically placed before or after a weekend or holiday,” said Johnson. “For students, it will give them some longer breaks to recharge in the spring, as well as allow for families to take a longer weekend without kids missing school.”

Southeast Valley’s first day of the 2025-2026 school year is scheduled for Aug. 27.

Southeast Valley Schools Schedule

New Start Time: 8:25 a.m.

New End Time: 3:35 p.m.

No early outs on Wednesdays.