Virtual Counselor,INDIAN RIVER COUNTY: Set the alarm clocks and sharpen those new pencils.
A new school year starts Monday for Indian River County public school students and it’ll be opening day for the county’s fourth middle school and first green school.
Storm Grove Middle School opens its $37.6 million campus in Vero Beach. The school is considered a “green” campus because it uses windows to provide natural light in classrooms and energy efficiency.
And a brand-new school without walls and doors also will open.
Starting with the new school year, all Florida school districts are required to offer virtual schools because of a 2008 law created to give parents more choice over how their children are educated. The Indian River virtual school is being run by virtual school providers Florida Virtual School and Florida Connections Academy.
For students, teachers and school staff not ready to give up the lazy days of summer, just two weeks away is Sept. 7 — the Labor Day holiday — giving all a three-day weekend.
The last day of the school year for Indian River County public schools is June 9 — 180 school days away.
Here is some helpful information for parents preparing to send their kids off to school.
LEARN MORE
For general questions, call the Indian River County School District headquarters at (772) 564-3000 or contact your child’s school.
For more information in general, visit the Indian River County School District’s Web site at www.indianriverschools.org.
BUS SCHEDULES
Visit www.indianriverschools.org for a listing of all the bus routes, school by school.
Be sure you know ahead of time which bus your child is supposed to ride. If you’re not sure, contact your child’s school or the school district’s transportation department at (772) 978-8801 for more information. The transportation hotline is (772) 978-8199.
For the first 10 days of school, until route times are firmly established, students should be at the bus stop about 10 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up times, school district officials advise.
LUNCH
School menus are listed on the school district’s Web site at www.indianriverschools.org/SiteDirectory/FoodServices.
Parents can set up an account to pay for their child’s school meals through MealpayPlus, a prepayment program that allows parents to deposit money into their child’s meal account with credit or debit cards or checks online at www.mealpayplus.com or by calling (866) 606-7084.
If you think your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, contact the school district’s food services department at (772) 564-4981.
SCHOOL MEAL PRICES*
$2.25: Elementary and middle school lunch
$2.50: High school lunch
$0.40: Reduced price lunch, for students who qualify
$1.25: Breakfast
$0.30: Reduced price breakfast
*Meal prices are higher for adults
TRAFFIC
With the start of school comes the return of school zones and their 20-mph speed limits.
Also remember school drop-off and pick-up lines are busy during the first few days of school. Be sure to arrive early so your child isn’t late.
Here are the police fines for breaking rules of the road:
$41.50: Fine for a child under age 16 without a bike helmet
$123 to $373: Fines for speeding in a school zone
$173: Fine for passing a stopped school bus
$500: Maximum fine for passing a stopped school bus on the right side. A mandatory court appearance is required.
SCHOOL HOURS
Elementary schools: 8:55 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Middle schools: 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Freshman Learning Center/Vero Beach High: 7:23 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
Sebastian River High: 7:30 a.m. to 2:06 p.m.
Alternative Education Center: 7:55 a.m. to 1:38 p.m.
Wabasso School: 8:20 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
