Petition: Later MCPS school start times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any groups bringing this petition to the new Superintendent, BOE this summer?

Wouldn't matter. There are more pressing issues than this since it was recently settled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any groups bringing this petition to the new Superintendent, BOE this summer?

Wouldn't matter. There are more pressing issues than this since it was recently settled.

"recently settled"? Over 10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

you argue that "some" are trying to change the bell times. Yet it is also "some" who have to drive kids to school. Somehow your "some" is more important???

NP. All kids would benefit from a later start time, especially high schoolers, many of whom are physically incapable of falling asleep before midnight.

Science? We don't need no stinkin' science.

Especially the pseudo science they're pushing when parenting would suffice.

What? Every study on this issue says early school start times aren't good for kids. They're just practical for parents.

Yes, it does help parents with child care and transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they start taking away the buses for magnet, they can free up buses! There are non-magnet HS students getting on a school bus as early as 6:35am when their school does not start until 7:30. The HSers need their sleep!

No bus for magnet means only the most economically privileged kids will attend unless they are walkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any groups bringing this petition to the new Superintendent, BOE this summer?

Wouldn't matter. There are more pressing issues than this since it was recently settled.

"recently settled"? Over 10 years ago.

Six months, ten years, the issue isn't timing - it's that none of the barriers to later start times have changed in that time. If anything, each of those barriers is more significant today than a decade ago.

You can't move everyone to the same start time because of available busses.

You can't swap MS and HS because it creates the exact same sleep issues for middle schoolers.

One option was to swap one group of ESs to the earliest time (7:45) and one group of ESs to the latest start time (9:40) but that presents issues for families with kids at different schools, or who use the before and aftercare at a different school than the one they attend.

The above option also would have pushed HS release time to after 4, while releasing some ES kids at 2:30, creating a childcare gap.

If you can engage with the available data and suggestion a solution that works for everyone, you should feel free to bring it forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

you argue that "some" are trying to change the bell times. Yet it is also "some" who have to drive kids to school. Somehow your "some" is more important???

NP. All kids would benefit from a later start time, especially high schoolers, many of whom are physically incapable of falling asleep before midnight.

Science? We don't need no stinkin' science.

Especially the pseudo science they're pushing when parenting would suffice.

What? Every study on this issue says early school start times aren't good for kids. They're just practical for parents.

Primarily they are feasible for MCPS for school transportation. MCPS only has so many buses and so many bus drivers. Currently, most of the buses and bus drivers are used for 3-4 routes, twice a day: high school, then middle school, then two elementary school groups. For later high school start times, MCPS would either have to buy a lot more buses and hire a lot more bus drivers, or MCPS would have to rearrange the order of the routes. MCPS assessed the rearrange-the-order options in the Bell Times Study and decided that none of the options were better than the current option. And all of the reasons for that decision are still valid now.

So, if you want later school start times, you need to figure out a way to get lots of kids to/from school that isn't (1) school buses or (2) parents driving kids. Once you've figured that out, the rest will be easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

And you are stubborn to demand everyone do what works for your 1950s lazy schedule.

Most people who work start between 8-9. What job will let you start at 10 AM? If you are so flexible why can't you take the time to get your kids to bed at a reasonable hour?

The same ones that allow for ES (you know the youngest learners) to need to arrive at school between 8-9am. If times were reversed the folks getting to school latest would be able to supervise themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

And you are stubborn to demand everyone do what works for your 1950s lazy schedule.

Most people who work start between 8-9. What job will let you start at 10 AM? If you are so flexible why can't you take the time to get your kids to bed at a reasonable hour?

The same ones that allow for ES (you know the youngest learners) to need to arrive at school between 8-9am. If times were reversed the folks getting to school latest would be able to supervise themselves.

Your idea is not a new idea. It was specifically addressed in the Bell Times report, and they specifically decided that this would be worse than the current bell times. If you want to know the reasons, go read the report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any groups bringing this petition to the new Superintendent, BOE this summer?

Wouldn't matter. There are more pressing issues than this since it was recently settled.

"recently settled"? Over 10 years ago.

What is the start time that you people want? 8:30am? 9:30am? 12:00pm? Just curious. In your world of later start times, what would be the ideal time for high school students to start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

And you are stubborn to demand everyone do what works for your 1950s lazy schedule.

Most people who work start between 8-9. What job will let you start at 10 AM? If you are so flexible why can't you take the time to get your kids to bed at a reasonable hour?

The same ones that allow for ES (you know the youngest learners) to need to arrive at school between 8-9am. If times were reversed the folks getting to school latest would be able to supervise themselves.

But then what do you do in the afternoon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

And you are stubborn to demand everyone do what works for your 1950s lazy schedule.

Most people who work start between 8-9. What job will let you start at 10 AM? If you are so flexible why can't you take the time to get your kids to bed at a reasonable hour?

The same ones that allow for ES (you know the youngest learners) to need to arrive at school between 8-9am. If times were reversed the folks getting to school latest would be able to supervise themselves.

But then what do you do in the afternoon?

The same thing you do in the morning now. Either have someone there appropriate to supervise the younger kid or get home earlier. This is not a new problem for school districts and parents. Either society forces work and school schedules to more align OR schools offer longer days that provide different services/activities beyond academic OR parents figure out how to get kids where they need to be and school times are based on what makes the most sense for the academic/SE needs for kids in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

And you are stubborn to demand everyone do what works for your 1950s lazy schedule.

Most people who work start between 8-9. What job will let you start at 10 AM? If you are so flexible why can't you take the time to get your kids to bed at a reasonable hour?

The same ones that allow for ES (you know the youngest learners) to need to arrive at school between 8-9am. If times were reversed the folks getting to school latest would be able to supervise themselves.

But then what do you do in the afternoon?

The same thing you do in the morning now. Either have someone there appropriate to supervise the younger kid or get home earlier. This is not a new problem for school districts and parents. Either society forces work and school schedules to more align OR schools offer longer days that provide different services/activities beyond academic OR parents figure out how to get kids where they need to be and school times are based on what makes the most sense for the academic/SE needs for kids in school.

The current situation isn't a new problem, but changing the school schedule around would create a new problem, as older kids would not be able to watch their younger siblings after school.

If people really want to see changed school schedules, they should first push for universal before/after care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

you argue that "some" are trying to change the bell times. Yet it is also "some" who have to drive kids to school. Somehow your "some" is more important???

NP. All kids would benefit from a later start time, especially high schoolers, many of whom are physically incapable of falling asleep before midnight.

Science? We don't need no stinkin' science.

Especially the pseudo science they're pushing when parenting would suffice.

What? Every study on this issue says early school start times aren't good for kids. They're just practical for parents.

Yes, it does help parents with child care and transportation.

And is harmful to children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

you argue that "some" are trying to change the bell times. Yet it is also "some" who have to drive kids to school. Somehow your "some" is more important???

NP. All kids would benefit from a later start time, especially high schoolers, many of whom are physically incapable of falling asleep before midnight.

Science? We don't need no stinkin' science.

Especially the pseudo science they're pushing when parenting would suffice.

What? Every study on this issue says early school start times aren't good for kids. They're just practical for parents.

Primarily they are feasible for MCPS for school transportation. MCPS only has so many buses and so many bus drivers. Currently, most of the buses and bus drivers are used for 3-4 routes, twice a day: high school, then middle school, then two elementary school groups. For later high school start times, MCPS would either have to buy a lot more buses and hire a lot more bus drivers, or MCPS would have to rearrange the order of the routes. MCPS assessed the rearrange-the-order options in the Bell Times Study and decided that none of the options were better than the current option. And all of the reasons for that decision are still valid now.

So, if you want later school start times, you need to figure out a way to get lots of kids to/from school that isn't (1) school buses or (2) parents driving kids. Once you've figured that out, the rest will be easy.

Flip ES and HS start times. No extra buses necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who are opposed to changing (or even discussing a change) school bell times are
A) don't want to change their own schedule in their stubborn old age
B) MCPS lawyer
C) both A and B above

We have kids in multiple after school activities and they have homework. If your kid needs sleep send them to bed earlier. You are stubborn to demand everyone change their scheduled based off your lazy parenting. Some of us have to drive our kids to school as there is no bus. A 9:30 start time would be a nightmare.

you argue that "some" are trying to change the bell times. Yet it is also "some" who have to drive kids to school. Somehow your "some" is more important???

NP. All kids would benefit from a later start time, especially high schoolers, many of whom are physically incapable of falling asleep before midnight.

Science? We don't need no stinkin' science.

Especially the pseudo science they're pushing when parenting would suffice.

What? Every study on this issue says early school start times aren't good for kids. They're just practical for parents.

Yes, it does help parents with child care and transportation.

And is harmful to children.

Leaving young children without supervision would be even more harmful.