Middle School start times

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:The slides are out for the proposal on school start times. Looks like C2 might be where we are headed, because both Prismatic and transportation are OK with it (9:40 MS start time). The last slide also advocates for doing this in parallel with the boundary changes in SY 26-27.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DDVKKR522B0A/$file/Middle%20School%20Start%20Times%20-%20Next%20Steps%20Feb%2018%202025.pdf


Lazy, but what page of report has option C2?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Option E looks like it’s going to win. The Office of Activities and Athletics approved it and said it wouldn’t impact sports.


I think option E is where they’re headed. Costs $0, and both FCPS and Transportation says it’s “easy.” Why would they want to do “more” work when they can do the least amount of work with the bonus that it’s free. This will be awful for elementary schools starting at 10, as if starting at 9 wasn’t bad enough. And to have to live with this schedule for 7 years…
Anonymous
Noooooo
The best part of middle school for my kids has been the after school clubs - get chance to hang out with their friends and try out new things. A 4:30 end time is going to cut out ALL of the clubs and late busses. Of course transportation wants this, they don't have to do late busses anymore. Lazy shits.

I also am not okay with my 12 year old having to leave the house an HOUR after I do in the morning. I am not okay with this. Where do I protest???
Anonymous
Option E has my elementary schooler arriving home at 5:00pm (30 minute bus ride). That is ridiculous.
Anonymous
Can someone please dig up the PDF that had the actual school names and start times for each option?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Option E has my elementary schooler arriving home at 5:00pm (30 minute bus ride). That is ridiculous.


Teacher here. We already have ES kids getting home at 5, with a 4:05 dismissal time. Most of the busses leave by 4:20- 4:30. Pushing this back would have kids getting home closer to 5:30. I already emailed the school board that Option E should be eliminated as an option. It is terrible for students and there would be a mass exodus of ES teachers which is currently the hardest to staff in the county. ES have preschools as well. These kids go to bed earlier and wake up earlier.

I think all kids should have normal hours between 8-3:45. The two worst schedules currently are the current middle school time and the late ES time. C2 gives them 2 years of a crappy late time vs the crappy early time and ES kids would finally get hours that would make them more successful.
Anonymous
E looks awesome.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:E looks awesome.


I’m with you. It shifts everybody by only 30 minutes. Elem can deal.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Noooooo
The best part of middle school for my kids has been the after school clubs - get chance to hang out with their friends and try out new things. A 4:30 end time is going to cut out ALL of the clubs and late busses. Of course transportation wants this, they don't have to do late busses anymore. Lazy shits.

I also am not okay with my 12 year old having to leave the house an HOUR after I do in the morning. I am not okay with this. Where do I protest???


Relax. are going to do E, so that won’t affect any after school activities for both middle and high schoolers.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I guess it depends on how much they care what Prismatic (who did not recommend option E) had to say.


The only reason Prismatic didn’t recommend option E was because one of the start times in that scenario (the middle school time at 8 am) was before the recommended start times from the AAP (which recommends 8:30 am or later). But Prismatic even said FCPS didn’t consider AAP recommendations as a necessity.

Both Office of Transportation and the Office of Activities and Athletics approve of E. They also said they needed the older students out before the elementary kids I. Case they need to proved child care for siblings. I am going to bet they will choose E. It’s the least disruptive to all. I called it months ago.
Anonymous
E allows MS and HS a later start which they need. There’s no cost, too. This looks like a winner. Elem Sch can start later, too. Less SACC time needed.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:E allows MS and HS a later start which they need. There’s no cost, too. This looks like a winner. Elem Sch can start later, too. Less SACC time needed.


Less afterschool SAAC, more BEFORE school SAAC.
Anonymous
ES parent here… option E has to be a non-starter. Working little brains after 3 is nonsense
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:E looks awesome.


I’m with you. It shifts everybody by only 30 minutes. Elem can deal.


My kid would start school at 9:40 and and get home after 5. My six year old kid. Who gets up at 7 am. This is not okay.

Middle schoolers can deal. It’s only 2 years. They can’t do this to elementary school kids for SIX years of school.
Anonymous
Why would people prefer a 9 am start to a 7:30 am start?
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