The Board of Trustees of the Livingston Independent School District approved adjusting school start and dismissal times for elementary and secondary students during its regular meeting July 13. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, elementary schools (PK-5) will start at 7:30 a.m. and dismiss at 3:15 p.m. and secondary schools (grades 6-12) will start at 8 a.m. and dismiss at 3:45 p.m.
“Research supports later school start times for adolescents. Teenagers experience different sleep patterns than younger children, and later start times can better align with their biological needs, supporting health, alertness, and readiness to learn,” Superintendent Dr. Jeff Pack said.
“There is also an important practical reason for this adjustment. New UIL heat-safety requirements will significantly limit outdoor athletic practices based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT. In the intense East Texas heat, these requirements will make afternoon outdoor practices increasingly difficult during the hottest months.
“By starting the secondary school day 30 minutes later, more outdoor practices can move to the morning, providing an additional 30 minutes of valuable practice time before school when temperatures and heat stress are typically lower.
“This is a positive change for Livingston ISD. It supports the needs of adolescent learners, helps the district respond proactively to new heat-safety requirements, and creates better opportunities for students to safely prepare and compete at a high level,” Pack said, adding, “The goal remains simple: to provide every student with an excellent education every day and every opportunity to succeed.”
The board approved property and casualty insurance, workers comp, the quarterly investment report and Policy Update 127.
A safety audit was presented during an executive session.
Discussion items included the 2026-2027 budget and the 2026-2027 student handbook.
Items on the consent agenda included:
