Provo School District's administration has scrapped a plan to release all students early on Mondays next year.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Randall Merrill presented a final proposal to the Board of Education for making school schedules more uniform throughout the district. Instead of early release on Mondays -- aimed at providing across-school collaboration time for teachers -- he recommended early-out Fridays for elementary schools and late-start Mondays for middle and high schools.

The change came after a public comment period, during which Merrill heard from more than 200 parents and employees -- most of them opposed to early release on Mondays.

"We were able to put all the pieces together," Merrill said in an interview, "and [the schedule] came together in a way that meets our educational goals, but also the individual desires of families."

The board plans to vote June 8 on the proposed schedule changes.

The schedule shifts also include uniform start and stop times for elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. To save on busing costs, each of those groups would be spaced 30 to 40 minutes apart. For instance, all high schools would start at 7:30 a.m., followed by middle schools at 8 a.m., and elementary schools at 8:40 a.m.

Three elementary schools that do not have bus service will be given some flexibility in their schedules, as long as teachers are available Friday afternoons to get together with their colleagues from other schools for collaboration time.

With the changes, Merrill expects the district will be able to eliminate 15 bus routes, saving $75,000.

Cindy Hoopes, president of the Provo PTA Council, praised Merrill and his staff for incorporating the wishes of parents into the new schedule changes.

"They listened," Hoopes said. "Overall, I think this is the best answer."

Plus, it will make the high school kids, including her own Provo High student, "so happy," she said.

They will get to sleep in on Mondays.