Late School Start Time for 2008-2009 School Year

[Brian Hornback]

On Brian's Blog today we have posted the possible staggered time schedule for 2008-2009 school year. This is ultimately the boards decision. To see if your school is proposed for a later start time, check out the post by utilizing this link http://brianhornback.blogspot.com/2008/06/knox-county-schools-may-i...

Tomorrow evening at West High School the Knox County Schools will host an overview of school finance and the FY 2009 Budget request at 6:00 p.m. in the school's auditorium. The school is located at 3300 Sutherland Ave.

[Cathy McCaughan]

Are they really serious about this? Getting out of school at 4:30 would wreck havoc on after school activities. Not just non-school activities like scouts, karate and private lessons, but school sponsored clubs, band and sports. Some children bring home hours of homework daily. They can't wait until after dinner to begin their heavy work loads. School needs to formally end by 4 pm for traditional students.

[Brian Hornback]

I can assure you that each board member is giving this idea serious consideration. If you have an opinion, you need to contact each and everyone of them.

Sam Anderson 525-1681 or 215-2809 or [e-mail]
Indya Kincannon 546-7098 or [e-mail]
Cindy Buttry 938-8022 or [e-mail]
Dan Murphy 523-0511 or 974-1752 or [e-mail]
Karen Carson 675-0236 or [e-mail]
Thomas Deakins 966-1370 or [e-mail]
Rex Stooksbury 938-1934 or [e-mail]
Jim Williams 933-5860 or [e-mail]
Robert Bratton 579-9999 or 595-0300 or 604-0168 or [e-mail]

[Abl]

Wow! I think this idea really has merit. The proposed changes to the high school schedule follow what research tells us about the sleep patterns of teenagers. I think the later start time could be very beneficial for high school students. At the same time, with my oldest child entering Kindergarten this fall, I am dreading those early mornings. The school bus will pick him up at 7:00! I hope the school system pursues this, and I hope parents will try to be open-minded about possible changes.

[Brian Hornback]

I posted this for everyone's benefit. For people like Cathy that thinks this is a not so great idea and for your benefit in thinking this item may be worthy of study and consideration. Make your views known to the people that make the decisions.

[Pamela Treacy]

I will try to be open minded when presented the pros and cons -- but will they be presented is my question.

Second, on a personal note -- as a working parent having a child go to bed each night after you is not ideal. To get up at 6 and still get 8 hours, I have to go to bed at 10, which I rarely do. But if my son gets to sleep until 8:30, he doesn't need to go to bed until midnight, which means there is still activity in the household after a working parent needs to go to bed. Now combine that with a family that has children at multiply schools. What type of problems does that create?

Maybe the schedule should consider feeder schools and clean up that mess. Then let the start times be the same for all the schools in a particular feeder school pattern. Obviously this is unrealistic because it would require them to rezone and fix all the problems they created last year.

Speaking of rezoning, it was suggested to have a later start time for Hardin Valley Academy to help deal with the traffic concerns some parents had, but at the time I believe many parents raised the concern that too many children will be left at home to get themselves off to school each day. That focus was on high school students who I personally believe should be able to get themselves out the door. But the proposed schedule here includes middle school students -- are they ready?

I know my little brother used to leave the house in first grade by himself and walk to school. Yes, I know that was a different era.

I am curious what others think about this.

I will wait to hear the pros and cons. Justifing $640,000 savings, means the benefits need to be more in just dollars to me. What are the non-financial costs to the families. Many afterschool jobs start at 4. Many kids need those jobs to pay for their own expenses and possible share in the family income.

[Pamela Treacy]

one other thing to consider -- how many jobs start at 9:30? We have not embarce shifting business start times. Most in the area start around 8:30. If we are preparing children, especially high schoolers, for the future, does a 9:30 start time send the right message, build the right routine. When do college classes start? Just want to get as much on the table for discussion as possible before this decision is made.

[Debi]

I'm obviously a night owl. I would suggest part of teen sleep patterns is somewhat a rebellious thing. I can remember staying up late because I didn't want to go to bed, I didn't want to get up, etc. I still love staying up late when the house is quiet and all are asleep, that's usually when I do my own college homework. I think I finished a take-home test at 4:45am earlier this week but I was still at my 8am class on time because it's real world.

I'm not against a late start time in an of itself, I just question what we are teaching our teens about responsibility and personal accountability. From my perspective in the health field, many health professionals are at work at 6-7am.

How about a flex-time, where there are some classes starting late/ending late, and alternative schedules starting earlier/ending earlier? Don't know if that would be more expensive, probably so, but it would also help provide more choices to help more situations.

[Abl]

Research shows that teen sleep patterns are biological, not rebellious. Some people definitely end up being early risers or night owls as adults, but during the teenage years body chemistry has a tremendous effect on sleep cycles. It makes sense to work with their bodies instead of against them. High school teachers can tell you what first period is like in the mornings, and many students also support the idea of beginning the school day later.

[Debi]

Sleep cycles are regulated by circadian cycles which are regulated by light, diet, activity, and medications. The research I have read, and I've been plagued with a night-waking child at times due to her autism, is that the sleep cycles can be reset. Most of the studies I have read in regards to teens are surveys, not actually looking into caffeine consumption, amount of lights/when, etc.

[lindaps]

I think that I have missed something ~ how is this suppose to save money?

[Indya Kincannon]

Here's my understanding: If you have staggered start times a single bus can transport more than one load of children. For instance a bus can do an early run for elementary children, then go back and get middle and high school students. The start times need to be spread out enough to do this. The savings come from using one bus instead of two (maintenance and labor savings, not fuel).

[Debi]

It would be interesting to hear from the bus contractors on this one.