More information

Background

• Current school times
  • Elementary schools 9:00 to 3:30
  • Middle schools 8:15 to 2:45
  • High school 7:30 to 2:00
• Current start times have been in effect for at least 15 years
• Parents requested review of start times
• Task Force formed to research issue

Timeline

• Any change will impact the community
• Input is needed to determine what’s best for the community
• Recommendation to superintendent in March
• School Board to deliberate April 15

Why Change?

• Adolescents require 8.5-9.25 hrs sleep¹
  • 9+ hours for optimal alertness
• Average teen gets to sleep at 11 pm²
  • “It’s a factor of human biology. It’s the most basic level of human function.” Kyla Wahlstrom, CAREI, Univ. of Minnesota
• Consequences of poor sleep¹
  • Low grades/poor performance
  • Inability to stay focused
  • Risk of unintentional injury
  • Negative moods

¹ Carskadon, et al
² Wolfson and Carskadon 

Impacts

• Safety of walkers
• Child care
• Activities
• Jobs
• Contracts
• Bus schedules
• Vehicle traffic
• Family time
• more

The Minneapolis Experience

• 1997-district changed start and dismissal times
  • HS 8:40 (later)
  • MS 7:30 (earlier)
  • Elem. Varied
• Studied impact on high school students
  • Finances were limited & elementary impacts were not studied

Sleep Patterns

• Minneapolis HS students slept 1 hour more than students in other districts
• “Night owls” still reported sleepiness, depression during day, even with the same amount of sleep as “morning larks”” and “in-betweens”
• Students still had to catch up on sleep on weekends