Outcome: The Task Force identified the benefits, barriers, constraints, and impacts of changing school start times on elementary, middle, and high school students. The three most important topics identified for future discussion were: impact on each individual level of school, Sports/co-curricular clubs, and transportation.
Outcome: The task force identified, through nominal voting, the following significant impacts that changing school start times has on elementary, middle, and high school students: health, transportation, before and after school care, athletics/co-curricular activities, family time, and academic achievement. Each member of the task force identified one topic to study further using research previously conducted by other school districts.
Expert Panel: Mike Hansen, Activities Director from Jackson Hole WY; John Hinzman, Activities Director, East Ridge HS, MN; Frank Lee, Activities Director, Fairview HS, Boulder, CO; and Dr. Judith Owens, Director of Sleep Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, MD
Outcome: The Task Force heard about the impact on sports and after-school activities from districts across the country that had implemented later start times for high school. while the change would require a significant culture shift, the Office of Athletics and Recreations and Parks Department adapt to fit the needs of the schools.
Expert Panel: Ron Despenza, Chief AACPS Transportation Operating Officer, and Don Swift, AACPS Transportation Systems Analyst; Transportation Software Vendors: Trapeze Group and EduLog.
Outcome: Because of the complexity of the AACPS Transportation system, changing high school start times could have a large and costly impact on bus routes and "tier" schedules. Transportation software could eventually help streamline the scheduling process, but will take time. The task force agreed to consider recommending that the Board of Education consider transportation software as they move forward to adjust school bell times.
Expert Panel: Diane Lee, Founding Director of Primrose School of Gambrills, Colette Barnes, Center Director for Severna Park Kinder care, and Dennis Rohde, Owner of Joy in Learning.
Outcome: While changing high school start times can have a significant impact on before and after school care, at the end of the day, Day Care will adjust to fit the needs of their clients. If schools began earlier/later, they would adjust to meet those needs.
Outcome: The task force discussed the various pros and cons associated with each bell time option put forth by Fairfax county (click here for more information about their options) and considered how the options would impact our county. The team agreed that above all, moving middle school early did not solve the problem because it shifted the issue onto another group of students and also left middle school students alone in the afternoon which could increase opportunities for trouble. Each bell time option had multiple pros and cons but overall, the team agreed that of the options outlined, they liked Fairfax Option 1 (Middle School Late) and 4 (High School Late).
Outcome: The task force met through a teleconference to discuss a hybrid option that delayed the start of all schools by 30 minutes and allowed for some students to have additional sleep by opting to participate in hybrid online courses. The task force discussed the basic logistics of this option as well as the concerns and benefits associated with the option.
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