The early MS start of Option 3 is one problem, but getting out of school at 2 is really odd to me. It mentions "no civil twilight violations" - what is the earliest they can ask kids to be at a bus stop?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But MS is only 2 years. And it has the advantage of not moving the ES bell schedules at all.

Our MS is one of the 4 that currently already starts early (7:20) and it does truly suck. But I'll trade 2 years of that if it means my kid can have 4 years of HS at a more reasonable time!

I wonder if SLEEP will support this option. The sleep needs of middle schoolers are even greater than high schoolers.

I can't wait for the hypocrisy to be revealed.

I never supported the option that put the burden on MS students... BUT -- I can see some logic in the argument that it's for 2 yrs. rather than 4 (or 7) as the early HS or ES school options would be. With only the MS going early, the greatest number of kids have a later start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to Ryan McElveen, they're most likely going with the MS/HS flip (opt 3)

Did Ryan tweet this? Or did he say he was "cra cra" for Option 3?

Still waiting to find out how Ryan's date with a teenage student went.

He cancelled and apparently the girl was fine with that b/c she later said it was just a joke and she didn't think he would actually go. I can't remember if he made an appearance by skype or something like that... but he did not go as anyone's escort.

Anonymous wrote:But MS is only 2 years. And it has the advantage of not moving the ES bell schedules at all.

Our MS is one of the 4 that currently already starts early (7:20) and it does truly suck. But I'll trade 2 years of that if it means my kid can have 4 years of HS at a more reasonable time!

I wonder if SLEEP will support this option. The sleep needs of middle schoolers are even greater than high schoolers.

I can't wait for the hypocrisy to be revealed.

Anonymous wrote:According to Ryan McElveen, they're most likely going with the MS/HS flip (opt 3)

Did Ryan tweet this? Or did he say he was "cra cra" for Option 3?

Still waiting to find out how Ryan's date with a teenage student went.

But MS is only 2 years. And it has the advantage of not moving the ES bell schedules at all.

Our MS is one of the 4 that currently already starts early (7:20) and it does truly suck. But I'll trade 2 years of that if it means my kid can have 4 years of HS at a more reasonable time!

UGH. Why is it ok to stick MS students with the crappy early time? If it's not a good time for HS students, it's not good for MS students either.

According to Ryan McElveen, they're most likely going with the MS/HS flip (opt 3)

It's up for decision in Oct.

Sounds like Option 3 is the winning option so far.

http://youtu.be/VcH4NrKHcZ8

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9LKMSK5C8019

Staff Contact: Jeffrey K. Platenberg, assistant superintendent, Facilities and Transportation Services

Meeting Category: July 14, 2014 – Work Session No. 7

Subject: Blueprint for Change

School Board Action Required: Discussion

Background:

In April 2013, the School Board awarded Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) a contract to develop a Blueprint for Change for later high school start times in Fairfax County. The CNMC team is tasked with developing empirically-based recommendations for starting FCPS high schools after 8:00 a.m. to improve students’ mental and physical health, academic performance, and safety.

To date, the CNMC team has completed background research that has included scientific literature reviews; analysis of previous FCPS task reports, surveys, and media articles; analysis of school districts across the country with successful school start time change through a new national survey, in-depth interviews, case studies, and media reports, and the compilation of these findings into a “lessons learned” report. As part of its community engagement efforts, the CNMC team has created and maintained website and social media pages with educational materials, held over 47 individual community stakeholder meetings, and hosted four group stakeholder meetings to examine costs, logistics, feasibility and the potential impact of moving high school start times later.

FCPS and CNMC recently conducted eight town hall meetings and provided an online feedback form to receive community input on four bell scenario options selected by the School Board in April. CNMC will provide a briefing on the community feedback and present recommendations related to refining a final bell scenario that will be presented in the fall.

I think in some places that all levels ride the same bus at the same time. I guess the schools are clumped together.

Small counties with plenty of busses can do that.
Every Fairfax county bus serves an elementary, middle, and high school each day. Obviously they need to make multiple runs at multiple times.

Anonymous wrote:Why don't all schools start at the same time...8:00 am or 8:15 is what I am used to from Europe. Starting earlier than that honestly is something I wouldn't want for my children. I'd rather home-school my kids than make them BE AT SCHOOL at 7:30am. That is just crazy early, sorry.

I keep hearing that in Europe, the school systems don't have to provide bussing so they can start at the same time. Is this correct?

Why don't all schools start at the same time...8:00 am or 8:15 is what I am used to from Europe. Starting earlier than that honestly is something I wouldn't want for my children. I'd rather home-school my kids than make them BE AT SCHOOL at 7:30am. That is just crazy early, sorry.

Double duty for school buses. FWIW, when I was in school in another state, all schools had the same hoursL 8-3.

Why don't all schools start at the same time...8:00 am or 8:15 is what I am used to from Europe. Starting earlier than that honestly is something I wouldn't want for my children. I'd rather home-school my kids than make them BE AT SCHOOL at 7:30am. That is just crazy early, sorry.