Petition Started To Reverse New School Start Times In Westport

WESTPORT, CT — A plan for Westport public schools to start a half-hour later beginning next year is being opposed in a petition by parents and teachers.

Earlier this week, the Board of Education approved the new start times for the 2020-2021 school year, which calls for:

• Coleytown, Greens Farms, Kings Highway, and Long Lots elementary schools to begin at 9 a.m. (end at 3:45 p.m.)
• Saugatuck Elementary and Coleytown Middle and Bedford Middle schools to begin at 8:30 a.m. (end at 3:15 p.m.)
• Staples High School to begin at 8 a.m. (end at 2:45 p.m.)

During the Monday meeting, there was opposition to the move from parents and teachers of younger students, writes The Wilton Bulletin. A committee studied the issue of later start times for two years before this week's decision, and other communities in Fairfield County have already made the switch.

Those against it were mostly concerned by the disruption in the schedules for elementary and middle school families because the later start times also pushed the end of the day to later in the afternoon. Such a move could add more pressure on students and make babysitting and after-school activities more difficult.

A Change.org petition launched Tuesday called for the new elementary and middle school times to be reversed, but the high school change should be implemented. As of Thursday, more than 325 people had signed the petition toward a goal of 500.

"By signing a petition you are supporting an appeal to reverse the decision to change the school start time for elementary and middle schools in Westport CT," the Change.org petition reads. "This petition is in support of allowing changes for the High School students, based on supporting research, but not to the detriment of Elementary and Middle School students."

Read The Wilton Bulletin story.