By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School officials are planning a later school start time for fifth through 12th grade students in the hopes that it results in an improvement in academics, discipline and social issues.

“The genesis for this idea came after I did a large amount of research on sleeping patterns of adolescents,” said PCS Superintendent Joann Chambers.

Just how the start time will be changed is still up for debate as many details still need to be covered.

The likely options are making a single bus run or switching the start times for middle and high school with the start time for youngsters. Students in high school begin class at 7:35 a.m. and middle school pupils start at 7:25 a.m. Chambers would like to see that start time pushed back somehow. Elementary students begin their day at 8:30 a.m.

“We want to go with what is the least disruptive to families,” Chambers said, noting that a recent survey sent out to parents suggested that two third of parents support a school start time change.

The BOE will make the final decision next spring, Chambers said.

Busing Logistics

The logistics begin with busing students to school and home. PCS does not have enough buses or drivers right now to accommodate a single bus run, but it remains an option to be discussed. PCS has about a dozen bus drivers.

“A single bus run would require more buses and drivers – we will explore that and see if it a feasible option,” she said.

Chambers noted that PCS already has issues finding bus drivers. “We have a hard time filling bus driver vacancies now,” so adding more drivers to its staff may not be easy.

Another transportation-related issue is that drivers and contracted to work for six hours each day. Chambers and the Board of Education were still considering options with workday hours.

Drivers work three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon. This includes checking the bus over for safety and transporting students.

Sleep Studies

Chambers said research shows that students in middle and high school who come to school prior to 8 a.m. are often sleep deprived which leads to academic issues, discipline problems, depression, anxiety and an increase in teen-related automobile accidents.

“It’s the biological truth,” Chambers said. She said other schools reported an improvement in grades and student behavior after moving the start time for older students to later in the morning.

Elementary school children naturally go to bed earlier, so they would still have time to get a full night’s sleep, while older students, who often go to bed later for a variety of reasons such as sports, work or studying, would be granted more time for sleep each morning.

“Our number one discipline is tardiness,” Chambers said. “Kids are trying to get to school but they are sleep deprived.”

Switching start times between middle/high school and elementary students may benefit the school overall. “Ultimately, we will do what is best for students.”

Other Effects

Parents wanted to know how the change might impact sports, BOCES, afterschool activities and childcare programs, she said.

PCS officials are still working on how a time change might alter the “late sports bus.” Also, parents wanted to know how often (if at all) students would be dismissed early from high school or middle school to attend games.

Officials will be working with BOCES to confirm times on the proposed bell schedule and make sure they work with BOCES transportation. Chambers said school officials would talk with BOCES supervisors to see if there are any concerns to think about for BOCES students.

PCS offers childcare services for elementary and middle school students. The LatchKey program, for elementary students, provides care for kids before and after school. A change would likely mean a shorter program in the morning and longer session in the afternoon.

Other considerations for fifth and sixth grade students need to be ironed out as well. The Beyond the Bell program, which is offered to middle schoolers, has operated after school for about three hours. Chambers is going to see if the program can operate an hour before school and two hours after school instead. If that is not feasible, Chambers wanted to explore the possibility of replicating the LatchKey program in the morning for fifth and sixth graders.

A draft proposal will be shared with Building Planning Teams for feedback and to refine details of a proposal.

The Board of Education and other school officials will continue to work this fall and winter on finalizing details to present to the public. A brochure, community forum, survey and faculty meetings are planned before a decision will be made.

If a change is implemented it would go into effect fall of 2018/.