UCF formally moves to investigate school start times

Timeline, study process formally adopted in district goals

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times

EAST MARLBOROUGH — The framework of a process to look at potentially changing the start time for high school and middle school students in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District as soon as the 2017-18 school year was more formally laid out during Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.

The investigation into both the science and logistics of delaying the start of the school day for the districts middle and high school students was formally adopted as a district goal for the 2016-17 school year. Although some details on on the timing of the investigation — there was some question as to whether or not both the science of the issue and the logistics could be investigated simultaneously — the goal is to potentially bring the process to a board vote on starting time in February, 2017 for the 2017-18 school year.

But officials — both administrators and board members — stressed that the issue has not been decided or would be until a full investigation is completed and input from everyone impacted is taken into account.

“No decision has been made,” board member Jeff Hellrung said, in making his argument for study of the subject.

The hard look at delaying start times was sparked when students began researching the issue and asked the board to begin to consider making a change. A growing chorus of medical and behavioral scientists have argued that teens have a great deal of trouble falling asleep in the early evening and end up with sleep deficits with early school start times. The American Medical Association formally recommended in June that middle and high school students not start classes before 8:30 a.m.

Hellrung, in what he plans to be monthly statements during board meetings on the subject, said the issue was a “public health issue comparable to seat belts and smoking” noting the hazards for young people, especially new drivers when sleep deprived.

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While much of the science seems to back the move, the details and process of such a change have a lot of moving parts, officials allow.

Both Unionville High School and Charles F. Patton Middle School begin their daily schedule at 7:35 a.m. and end at 2:18 p.m. roughly the same times as all other high and middle schools in Chester County.

While the emerging science makes a strong case for a change, the logistical challenges are formidable, officials admit.

Without adding additional transportation resources, the district has a limited amount of options.

One would swap elementary and secondary start times (elementary schools start at 8:55 a.m. and finish at 3:25 p.m.). That move, though, could cause issues for younger student childcare, as well as conflicts for secondary school athletics and after school jobs for high school students. Another option might be to push back the entire school district by 30 minutes, officials allowed — which while still earlier than the AMA recommendation, would be less of logistical issue.

The initial district plan had been to look first at the science — whether changing start times would have a positive impact on students, and then if so, look at the logistics. Board member Gregg Lindner argued that it would make sense to handle both subjects on dual tracks, rather than wait to pursue one after the other.

Superintendent of Schools John Sanville reenforced the notion that no decision has been made and encouraged the community to get involved with the discussion — and to visit the district Website to keep up to date.

Beyond the start time initiative — which had been part of the original district goal proposal, only two changes were made, with the district’s 10-year capital plan moved up to main goal, while the strategic plan was switched to a focus.

As expected, the board formally moved to make the Wellness Committee a permanent standing board committee. Board president Victor Dupuis said he would take a bit of time and consider his choices for committee chair and vice chair. 

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