St. Paul schools poised to change start times, but details unclear
The St. Paul school board is ready to take the next step toward changing school start times, but it's not at all clear what those changes will be.
The board plans to vote on a motion Dec. 13 that would direct district officials to develop a start times plan. The move is based in research showing teens are biologically programmed to sleep and wake up later.
A draft plan from the district has most middle and high schools moving to an 8:30 a.m. start, with elementary students split between 7:45 and 9:30 a.m. to accommodate busing.
But some elementary parents say those times would mean expensive extra childcare and disrupted schedules. The plan is also projected to cost between $2 million and $4.4 million.
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"I think this early-start time, later-start time thing — I think it is important. But I think we do have other greater, more urgent issues in my mind that $4 million could be used toward. Maybe something that makes more impact in our achievement gap," board member Chue Vue said at a committee meeting Tuesday.
The board cited a need to gather more input before plans become final. Board member Steve Marchese said he thinks it's time for a change.
"What we're trying to do is move this all in the direction of what is in the best interest of our students, and that to my mind has to include later start times for secondary students," Marchese said.
The district says it would finalize a plan in time to implement changes in the 2018-19 school year.