When Montville Township High School juniors take the High School Proficiency Assessment on three mornings in March, students in other grades will have the chance to sleep in.

High school principal Douglas Sanford suggested giving freshmen, sophomores and seniors a delayed opening so juniors can complete the statewide test in a less disruptive environment before the other students arrive, school officials said.

Previously, juniors took the exam in the cafeteria or gym while other grades went between classes.

Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried said the previous way made for a "difficult testing environment."

Fried presented the delayed opening plan at the last Board of Education meeting. School board members agreed with the plan, which has an additional cost of about $2,900 associated with it.

Busing on those days would cost an extra $4,110. That cost would be partially offset by avoiding the cost of renting tables and bringing in substitute teachers that the previous method entailed.

The HSPA is scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday, March 6, 7 and 8.

Board member Carmela Novi, a member of the district's curriculum committee, said she heard a presentation by Sanford on the idea. She said she was persuaded it would help students. If a different testing environment could improve performance on such an important test "we should seriously consider approving it," she said.