Schools
Ridgefield BOE Committee to Explore Change in School Start Times
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RIDGEFIELD, CT — The issue of school start times has taken center stage at recent Ridgefield Board of Education meetings, and now the district is taking a step to implement a change in start times.
The district announced Friday that the Board of Education has voted unanimously to develop an "implementation plan" for school start times in the district. The BOE's strategic planning committee will lead the initiative for implementation for the 2018-2019 school year.
“The Strategic Planning Committee is committed to exploring the feasibility of changing school start times," said Committee chairman and Board of Education member James Keidel." In connection with this, during the next few months, the committee will be seeking input from the various groups that would be affected by a change. This feedback will be of paramount importance to the committee in order to develop a plan for the Board to consider that reflects the various options available and the obstacles that such a change may present.”
Proponents of school time changes argue that later start times could improve students' health and performance. However, opponents argue that the delay in start times would cost taxpayers unecessarily, as well as put undue stress on parents and staff.
The district says the vote was made following parent advocacy and the Board's review of associated scientific research from the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Sleep Health Awareness Project.
The district hired transportation consultant Edulog, to review the efficiencies of the district's bus routes and the possible return to the three-tier bus system that would help put the plan into effect.
“While the science is clear related to the link between adolescent sleep patterns and the overall health and wellness of young people, it is important that we recognize that a change to school start times is a decision that can affect the entire community,” said Superintendent Dr. Karen Baldwin in a statement.
The announcement further indicated that all stakeholders will be brought into the discussion, and that the initiative could affect system-wide change in the district.
“The board will engage in a consultation process," said Board of Education chairman Fran Walton in a statement."We recognize that any changes will affect all children K-12 and their families, which is why effective consultation is of paramount importance.”
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