We, the undersigned parents of PS 261, call on the school to restore the old school day--8.40 to 3:00. We feel the new schedule is not family friendly. In the morning, it means waking sleeping children to get them to school on time, especially since many of them commute from long distances. In the afternoon, it means having to provide an extra half hour of childcare, as few working parents can make the 2:40 pick-up. And students who stay for the after-school program now have to sit around for an hour and a half until the elective activity begins (at 4.15).

PS 261 now has the earliest start and finish time of any elementary school in brownstone Brooklyn. This past summer, teachers at PS 58, under pressure from the parent body, re-voted to move the start time to 8.50 a.m. from a proposed 8am. If enough PS 261 parents express their unhappiness, we can exert similar pressure, if not for this year than at least for next.

Please sign the petition and pass it on to your friends at the school.

Thank you,