Starting this fall, Lylburn Downing Middle School will begin its day 10 minutes earlier to make room for an expanded version of its advisory program, following a 4–1 vote by the Lexington City School Board on June 11.
The new start time – 8:05 a.m. instead of 8:15 – will allow teachers to lead a daily “Trojan Advisory Group,” or TAG, which had previously occurred once a week. The program focuses on socialemotional learning as well as organizational and executive functioning skills that educators say are critical for middle schoolers.
“We’re moving to a daily TAG time,” said Superintendent Rebecca Walters. “This is a stand-alone period that allows our teachers to cover [social-emotional learning] topics but also support students in developing essential skills like time management, organization and planning – things our teachers have said students are struggling with.”
While the change was broadly supported by staff and board members, some concern was raised about the impact on student sleep.
Board member Katie Masey cast the lone dissenting vote, suggesting the school consider splitting the TAG time across the beginning and end of the day instead. “I’m giving my two cents based on what I think is best for the child’s brain – and that’s not to make the day even earlier,” she said. “TAG sounds phenomenal, but sleep and physical activity are also really important.”
The earlier start time will shift shuttle bus schedules slightly: the shuttle will now leave from Waddell Elementary at 7:45 a.m., 10 minutes earlier than before. Doors at Lylburn Downing will open at 7:45 a.m., with students released to classrooms by 8:00 and the first bell at 8:05.
According to Walters, staff contract times will not change, as employees already report earlier than the current student start time. The new bell schedule maintains standard class lengths and will still end the school day at 3 p.m.
Walters acknowledged Masey’s concerns and said the division will closely monitor attendance and tardy data. “We’re working on this every single month,” she said. “We’ve had many conversations about student needs and this is part of a broader strategy to support them more holistically.”
TAG is designed to provide students with a consistent group of peers and a teacher they meet with daily, creating a sense of continuity and support in their school lives. Walters described the expanded program as a direct response to teacher feedback and a desire to better serve students’ non-academic needs without sacrificing instructional time.
