Flip flop
In the Orange County (Fla.) district, like many across the country, the daily schedule for schools has been along these lines: High schools start first, elementary schools a little later in the morning, and middle schools later still. Large districts stagger the start times mainly so that buses can be used more efficiently–the same driver and vehicle can run a route each day for three schools.
But next year, in an effort to save money, the Orange County board has decided to flip the schedules of middle and high schools. High schools that started at 7:20 a.m. now will start at 9:30 a.m. (9th grade centers at 9:45 a.m.) Middle schools will start at 7:30 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.
But some high school students are complaining about the switch, saying it will cut into their extracurricular involvement, after-school jobs and teen-age activities. (No word on what middle school kids think.)
The school district estimates that the change will enable it to run 37 fewer buses; it also notes that some research indicates that teen-age students perform better academically when they get more sleep in the morning.
What do you think? Is it better for high schools to start early or start late?
Leave a comment below.
May 23rd, 2008 @ 9:10 pm
What turned out into a quick investigation into the flip-flop of times in the Orange County schools turned in to quite a project for myself and my two teen-age sons. We all read Thursday’s edition of the Sentinel and focused on the article ‘Bad Suggestion.” We agree that perhaps making students pay for rigorous tests is not the way to save money, but neither is swapping school times. Mr. Blocker claims that swapping start times will save $14 million over 5 years, but I believe even the most adamant supporter of that statement must concede that is speculation, as using less buses to do more may actually result in higher maintenance costs, let alone safety issues.
Every time anyone disagreed with the four board members supporting this flip-flop, they were met with, “If you could find a better way, we would do it.” Yet, the board members are stubborn in their resolve. What kind of example are we setting for our young ones when they say it is our way or the highway? So we decided to look at the Orange County school budget.
Regardless of whether the flip-flop remains, something needs to be done about the Orange County school board’s spending. At the very least an independent auditor should review the Orange County school board’s budget. If this were a business, the superintendent and board would be axed by the shareholders pretty quickly. Revenues are up and student count is pretty level, yet the schools are being run at a deficit.
May 26th, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
Great comments. Plus they have a 35 million dollar contingency fund just sitting there. But they also passed this by only a 4-to-3 vote, and their own written policy requires a 2/3 majority or 5 yes votes for this. Unless they change back to the normal hours of before, lawyers will have a field day with this, and it will cost the School Board $$. Plus it looks like it would be clearly illegal. They may try and spin this a different way but it is clearly in writing they need 5 votes to change!! Justice will prevail here!
May 27th, 2008 @ 7:38 am
Moving high school kids last seems like a good chance to let them sleep later and not be sleep-deprived. University of Minnesota changed their times and show improvement in learning gains. A later start time will allow athletes to practice in the mornings before the heat of the day as well. As public servants we must find ways to continue to reduce costs and benefits kids.
May 27th, 2008 @ 8:55 am
Our district has had a 9 a.m. start time for high school students for more than 15 years. It follows the research regarding later start times for older students and has been extremely successful.
May 27th, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
As respects Mr. Sanders’ statement–what about the middle schoolers who also are teenagers whose start times will be swapped? They need their sleep even more per the studies. High school children and college children need to get more in tune with the real world they will be facing and that is early start times. As respects Doug–which district are you referring to that has had a 9:00 start time? And by the way 9:00 is a little better then 9:30. Having athletes training early and then going to school has also shown detrimental injury effects on the athletes early in the morning and worse education results during the day. And who would provide the transportation for these kids early in the morning–again the poorer students would be discriminated against as only the more affluent ones would be able to adapt to this. It seems to me we are forgetting about the real losers in this flip-flop and that is the kids.
May 31st, 2008 @ 1:04 am
Update on my prior comments:
I would like to update any prior comments that I have made. We have relooked at the budget with the help of both the state and various individuals at the Orange County School Board. Heretofore, I have been a vocal critic of the flip-flop. However, after every way we looked at the budget–and it is a budget that has been absolutely indedpendently audited–I have come to learn that there was very litte fat to work with. The legislature under the guise of lost revenues has in fact forced severe cuts to not only Orange County’s budgets but other counties as well. This from a [Gov.] Crist-led legislature that promised education would be left alone and spared any and all cuts. We should be venting our anger towards them. The only fat I see is in the areas of the contingency fund and possibly cutting some insurance expenses. Perhaps with tightening in those particular areas and maybe finding some others, though late in the game at this point, Mr. Blocker and others including the school board can become heroes to all and find some way to work with the swap by either changing it back or modyfying it in some way. I do think this community needs to come together positively on this issue and work toward an equitable solution. Again, I am still against the swap because of its effect on a complete high school experience. It affects sports, after-school activities and jobs, and because of its impact on the safety of middle school students placed in danger at pre-dawn hours. However, I, and others also have to respect and realize Mr. Blocker and the school board have been placed in a no-win situation given the set of cards they were dealt by our legislature. My hope and the rest of everyone’s hopes in Orange County is that some positive compromise or solution can come from this all.
June 3rd, 2008 @ 9:47 am
It is amazing how extracurriculars often dictate what we do in secondary education. In my experience as a former elemenary school teacher and principal, the elementary kids who don’t start until 9:00 are tired by 2:00 in the afternoon–yet they may have up to another 90 minutes to go. Have the elementary school on the early time, and move the secondary to later. If that is best for student achievement then that should be what we do. As far as jobs go, employers will adjust. Another radical idea is to actually say NO to coaches who want to have early morning practices. If those practices negatively affect student achievement, why should schools allow them?