GLOVERSVILLE — When city school district classes resume in September, starting time for elementary school will be a half hour later, at 9 a.m.

Superintendent Robert DeLilli, presenting the plan at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, said the delayed start at the elementary level will save considerable money for the district by reducing bus routes and freeing district drivers to make special education runs to the Albany area. Those runs were subcontracted to the private sector.

With an 8:30 a.m. starting time, additional buses are needed to serve the elementary-level population. With the new plan, buses finishing high school and middle school runs will be able to shift to elementary school runs, DeLilli said.

In other business Monday:

*  The board voted to rehire the Albany law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, but the measure was approved with the understanding that the board will spend the year investigating services from other law firms. A number of board members expressed reservations about continuing the district’s long relationship with Girvin & Ferlazzo after revelations the firm had positioned a number of its attorneys as employees of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES. In the face of an investigation by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the firm settled with the state for $500,000 without admitting any wrongdoing. A number of Gloversville school board members, speaking at a previous meeting, said they objected to those terms.

The firm was rehired Monday at $160 per hour for litigation matters and $27,5000 for collective bargaining and other employee matters.

*  The board approved the restoration of seventh-grade sports, a program cut during budget formulation in the spring.

Under the plan adopted Monday, a modified program will be absorbed into the existing athletic budget. The original program cost about $40,000. The adopted program will cost about $33,000.

Board President Perry Paul said it will be funded from transportation savings made possible by a shortened and rearranged schedule and from a retirement.

Athletic Director Michael DeMagistris said seventh graders in a number of sports will play in southern and northern divisions, grouping most games in a school’s general area. Teams will make only two trips to the Glens Falls area to play the four districts in that region. Gloversville will compete mainly against Scotia-Glenville, Broadalbin-Perth and Johnstown.

*  The board voted unanimously to designate The Gazette Newspapers as the district’s official newspaper, replacing the Leader-Herald.