Passing Bell Returns to Kirkwood High School

When the passing bell at Kirkwood High School broke last year, it led to the permanent dismissal of the bell for the remainder of the school year.

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But the bell sounded through the halls of Kirkwood High School on the first day of school Tuesday.

"Over the summer, the administration took a survey of teachers and students and the result of the survey was that they would like to start the year with the bells turned on," Principal Mike Havener said.

The findings of the survey contradict one conducted last school year that showed 70 percent of staff liked the sound of silence.

"The biggest advantage (of having the bell) I heard personally was that it took the guesswork out of when students were required to be in class and took the guesswork out of dismissing classes," Havener said. "The feedback we received showed teachers did not want to have to worry about monitoring those two timelines."

The Kirkwood High School administration will continue to survey students throughout the year to determine whether the bells should stay or go.