As of the 2025-2026 school year, students and staff of Durand High School are adjusting to a brand-new bell schedule that has been implemented.
Many parts of the school day are experiencing changes. The bell schedule introduces the school day, which now begins at 8:10 and ends at 3:08. Every class period has been reduced by two minutes. A breakfast period has been implemented between second and third period, and lunch starts at 1:01.
“During last year, this decision was a process,” Principal David Lombardo said. “It started when a couple of high school teachers came to me asking about moving lunch earlier because it was so late in the day.”
This proposition was then further explored by the school administration. They looked into moving the designated lunch period earlier in the day, but were unable to do this due to scheduling issues between other parts of the school.
“They couldn’t move lunch any earlier because of elementary and junior high lunch times. So because of that, they decided to move the breakfast period from the morning before school to later in the day,” Lombardo said.
Granting the opportunity for a break, food, and a chance to socialize, this 16 minute breakfast period has greatly benefited the student body, especially those in Career Tec. Those students are now guaranteed a time to grab something to eat and have a little downtime before their next class begins.
Differences in release times between the younger and older students of Durand were always an issue. However, with the new bell schedule, this issue was resolved.
“At the end of the school day, the elementary students would be released before the high schoolers were, which caused them to sit and wait [on the bus or blacktop] until the high schoolers were released,” Lombardo said.
This new schedule allows all students of Durand to be released relatively around the same time and reduces any unnecessary waiting.
Sent to all of the students currently in high school, a survey revealed that 70.8% of students like the new schedule that is in use, with only 29.2% disliking it.
“I like that we have a breakfast hour for all of those who don’t have time to eat in the mornings,” Sophomore Ali Anderson said. “I also like that we get out earlier. It is helpful for those in sports to be able to have everything ready for when their practice starts.”
It was also pointed out that learning a new bell schedule after being accustomed to the old one is a downside.
Junior Lola Robertson said, “Last year I finally learned the schedule, and now I have to spend the next two years learning this one.”
As of now, this new bell schedule will most likely be used in the future.
“We will see how this year goes and determine if it is something we would like to keep using in the future,” Lombardo said.
