CRYSTAL FALLS - The Forest Park School District

is lengthening its school day to save money.

With the longer school days, the district will be able to reduce the school calendar by six instructional days, said Supt. Tom Jayne.

Due to recent reductions in the school aid bill the district has had its 2009-2010 revenue and operating budget reduced by $158,393.

This reduction has forced the district to enact a number of budget reduction measures in order to preserve a balanced budget at the end of the fiscal year, which is required by state law.

The first budget reduction measure was enacted by the Board of Education and the Forest Park Education Association. The board and the FPEA agreed to reduce the current 2009-10 school year calendar by six instructional days.

This measure will save the district approximately $19,800 and will also affect the current school year calendar and student instructional day in the following areas.

- 1) School Starting & Ending Times:

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 9, and ending on June 8, the school day will be extended by 18 minutes. School will be dismissed at 3:23 p.m. as opposed to 3:05 p.m. Start time will continue to be 8:20 a.m. The lunch period and class periods will be adjusted by two to three minutes. Breakfast times will remain the same.

- 2) Busing: Students riding a bus will see an adjustment to their home arrival time by approximately 18 minutes effective Monday, Nov. 9. The buses will leave school at approximately 3:33 p.m. as opposed to 3:15 p.m. This measure will be in affect for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year.

- 3) Six Less Instructional Days: School will no longer be in session on the following days: Nov. 23-24, 2009; Jan. 28-29; 2010; Feb. 22-23, 2010.