Later Start For Chatham High Students? It Is On The Table

CHATHAM, NJ - It seems to not be a matter of if, but when the School District of the Chathams will adjust their schedule to allow middle school and high school students to start their days later.

At the school board meeting Monday, Board President Jill Critchley-Weber asked Superintendent Michael LaSusa to share whether he had made any progress on the research into having high school students come at the latest possible time and the elementary students come at the earlier time.

"Only cause of the studies, they need more sleep, the kindergarteners don't need as much sleep," Weber said. "Some of the working parents who have younger students it might be beneficial to have their kids start earlier. No offense but, high school kids if they start later they can walk to school or get rides from their friends. I didn't want to lose sight of the fact that we've been talking about this for several years."

LaSusa said that they should allocate time to discuss it at a future public meeting, but there were some obstacles they needed to consider.

"The biggest obstacle has been transportation. In particular we've investigated what could we do to add additional bus routes to the high school because traditionally there have been four or five in the morning," he said. "The initial answer is there is such a bus driver shortage that we can't even contemplate adding additional routes. So the only way to do it would be to do the full on flip."

LaSusa said that flip would mean the elementary schools would be running on that earlier schedule, which can present its own problems.

"This time of year when it is four degrees out you'd have younger students out there waiting in the dark when its colder. You'd have younger students who would arrive home earlier then their older siblings in instances when they would greet their siblings and take care of them in instances when their parents are working," he said. "So there are logistical issues like that that can be challenging."

LaSusa noted that many many districts across the United States have moved to a later start time for high school students and its absolutely the best things for students.

"You've heard me say this before I don't think there is anything more impactful that we could do other than start the school day later for high school students and for middle school students," LaSusa said. "It would do more for academic performance, student well being, issues with anxiety, depression, car accidents. You name it. Everything improves when students sleep more. So there will be no question about what is the best approach. The evidence is on one side and there is no other side. Its really a financial and logistical issue."

Board member Michelle Clark said she was reading an article that touched upon the fact that parents should be more concerned about their children's sleep in high school than when they were infants.

"When you are a new parent you obsess over your child's sleep, and you're obsessive over it. You're trying to get them to sleep through the night and the naps and the this, and what we should be doing now is obsessing over our kids in high school's sleep now," Clark said. "Because the impact of their sleep now is so much more significant then when they were six months old and if we really looked at our children now and the sleep that they're not getting and if we thought about them at this time at six months old we would be beside ourselves and dragging them in their car seats to the pediatrician."

Clark said she felt it was so important that the board continue the dialogue and be an advocate for our kids who can't advocate.

"They have to come to school," she said.

For her part, Weber said she noticed a difference with just a delayed opening.

"A delayed opening its a world of difference in the student's demeanor and their mindset. Just having that little bit of extra time to sleep or even just get something else done or take a breath for a minute," she said. "I'd like to continue the dialogue. We know the experts are saying if you do this student lives will be improved. We have to do it. We have to do it somehow."

(Photo courtesy of YouTube)

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.