Lights On High School Football Field Being Considered: Report

PRINCETON, NJ — Last month, it was reported that the Princeton Public School District was considering beginning and ending the school day later. If that were to happen, it may have an impact on athletes when it gets dark earlier in the fall.

The solution may be the permanent installation of lights on the Princeton High School football field, the Princeton Packet reports. It is unclear if the plan — which remains just a proposal — would lead to more night games or if the lights would only be used for practice.

A decision on the proposal to change the school day schedule must come first. That proposal would change the school day at both the high school and the John Witherspoon Middle School to 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., and from 8:10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the elementary schools.

Currently, the high school day runs from 7:50 a.m. to 2:51 p.m.; John Witherspoon Middle School students are in class from 8:30 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.; and elementary school runs from 8:25 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the report. The district will get feedback from parents, teachers and students before making any final decision.

Concerns about the school day schedule came from a survey in which more than 80 percent of students in the district said they are often or always stressed by schoolwork. Only 15 percent said they truly enjoy learning during the school day.

Students are also spending between three and three and a half hours a night on homework, and getting between six and six and a half hours of sleep a night. During a review of the survey in April, the district learned that about 47 percent of students miss one or more days of school each month because of a stress-related or emotional problem.

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