BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — As an effort to curb gun violence, Birmingham City Councilor Clinton Woods proposed an idea that would extend school hours for Birmingham City Schools from 8 hours to 10 hours.
According to Woods, school would begin at 7 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. as opposed to the current hours of 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
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Davis Carter is one community member who said he likes the idea of extending school hours if there will be additional extracurricular programs that students could participate in.
“I’ve heard of that idea before, of extending school hours, and I think that’s great if there’s some kind of supplementary education,” said Carter.
Jimmy Martin-Freeman is another community member who said the idea may deter students from attending school.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If they do that it’s most def going to be way more dropouts,” said Martin-Freeman.
A former Birmingham City Schools student, Sheepa Ashanti, said she has mixed feelings about the idea, saying something does need to be done to curb the violence.