Hood River County School District secondary schools will start and stop 20 minutes earlier next school year. The district board approved the plan for classes to start at Hood River Valley High School at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m., while Hood River and Wy’east middle schools will begin the academic day at 8:25 a.m. and release at 3:25 p.m. The district had staggered start and release times between elementary and secondary schools heading into this year to increase the efficiency of their bus system. Superintendent Dan Goldman says they found they didn’t need as much time between elementary and secondary runs as they allowed for. The change for 2015-16 will reduce lost class time for students involved in extra-curricular activities that travel for competition. Elementary schools will maintain their current schedules.