District 203 released the proposed school day start and end times to staff and community members on Jan. 24. The changes come as part of a broader redesign of the school day across all levels of instruction in 203.
Start and end time changes include an 8:30 a.m.-3:10 p.m. high school day, an 8:50 a.m.- 3:40 p.m. middle school day and a 7:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. elementary school day.
“I think the impact is going to be significant,” said Mark Cohen, Deputy Superintendent for High Schools. “The research on sleep for teens and mental health is extensive. Right now we have students who are being dropped off almost an hour before their school day actually begins, and that’s just a lot of time that we’re taking from students [that’s] just not necessary.”
The proposed change will also shift the district-wide model from a nested to a staggered school day design. Currently, high schools start first and end last, followed by middle school starting second and ending second, then elementary school starting last and ending first.
“Currently, many high school students who utilize transportation arrive at school 60 minutes before the school day begins to accommodate the junior high and elementary routes,” said Superintendent Dan Bridges in an email sent to staff on Jan. 24. “These operational changes shorten bus routes and ensure nearly all buses drop off close to the start of the school day and are waiting at dismissal.”
After-school middle school extracurricular events will not be impacted by the later start times, as currently scheduled transportation arrives at 3:45 p.m., according to Bridges.
“We used a transportation consultant to help us make those recommendations, given the geographic spread of the district, but then also in consideration of the needs of adolescents for more sleep and the research on start times,” Cohen said.
Due to the changes, some staff members’ stipend positions may be impacted if they coach or sponsor activities at schools whose dismissal will now fall before that of their own. Bridges stated in his email that “We can never promise positions, however, we will work with all level administrators and athletic directors to ensure that those who have stipends for coaching or sponsoring within our district continue to have that opportunity if they so desire.”
The high school day will be shortened by 35 minutes to a total of 6 hours and 50 minutes under the proposed change. The elementary day will be lengthened by 15 minutes.
Early childhood will adopt a 3-year-old specific instruction period from 8:15–10:15 a.m., while four to five year olds will be present from 12:05 a.m.-2:35 p.m.. Connections will stay under their same start and end times from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m..
The proposed school day start and end times will be presented to the Board of Education at the Feb. 3 board meeting and will be voted on at a later meeting.