Stillwater Area Public Schools is considering a change to start times for the 2019-2020 school year. The preliminary proposal to change start times was shared with the school board during a work session last week. According to the preliminary proposal:
Start times would be earlier for Oak-Land and Stillwater middle school students, as well as two elementary schools;
Move the start time for Stillwater Area High School back 40 minutes for an 8:20 a.m. start time;
Move five elementary school start times back about 30 minutes; and
Impact local charter and non-public schools with possible start times beginning near 10 a.m.
According to Stillwater Area Public Schools:
“School board members are considering a change to school start times that would allow for high school students to begin school later in the day. Medical evidence and research suggests that a start time of 8:30 a.m. or later would better align with teens’ unique sleep needs – improving both the physical and mental health of high school students.” The district could see a financial benefit from adjusting start times, according to the district’s website, by “allow the district to better balance the number of buses needed during each tier of bussing.”
Link: School board considering start time changes for 2019-2020
Link: Start Time Research on stillwaterschools.org
Link: Preliminary Proposal shared with Board of Education
The preliminary proposal would move the district to a four tier busing system, instead of the current modified three tier system. Tier 1: (7:30 a.m.) Both middle schools and two elementary schools. Continue Reading →