BY MATT LINDSEY North Country This Week POTSDAM — The Potsdam Central Board of Education could decide in May whether or not to change the school start time The school board has been exploring the …
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BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week
POTSDAM — The Potsdam Central Board of Education could decide in May whether or not to change the school start time
The school board has been exploring the feasibility of shifting start times to be better aligned with the recommendations of sleep experts. The options are to reverse the order of the school starts, with the elementary school opening first; move to a single bus run, with all three schools opening at essentially the same time; or start all three schools later than they do now, perhaps 25 or 45 minutes later.
Potsdam Central Superintendent Joann Chambers says the recommended option is to start elementary students at 7:40 a.m. with the instructional day beginning at 8 a.m. This schedule would be within 5 minutes of the start times at 7 other elementary schools in the county.
After examining the ramifications of all three options, Superintendent Chambers recommended Option 1 to the Board of Education.
“However, no decision has been made, and the Board is very interested in feedback from the community,” Chambers said.
With this plan, there are no expected negative impacts expected to finances, BOCES, after-school programs or sports.
Two buses would be added to reduce the time students spend on the bus so younger children are not waiting for the bus in the dark during winter months. No students would board buses before 6:55 a.m. Newer buses are equipped with LED lights that illuminate the path to the bus. If a change is made, older buses will have this equipment installed as well.
A single-bus run scenario may not be a viable option due to costs, contracts and concerns.
This option would cost about $200,000 as PCS would need to purchase 6 more buses and hire more drivers and mechanics. The change would also cause PCS to lose some transportation funding.
Under a single bus run, drivers would only be working three hours a day. The current contract requires drivers be guaranteed 6 hours of work a day, for 30 hours a week. Drivers would earn the same salary for half the work. There is also a lack of certified bus drivers statewide which could lead to hiring issues.
A single bus run would also place K-12 students on the same bus creating concerns about youngsters being exposed to inappropriate language, behavior and topics that are not suitable for their age.
Chambers is also anticipating that starting all three schools later will not be acceptable.
“The 25-minute later option is very problematic at the high school due to the time constraints imposed by students who attend a program at Seaway Tech,” she said.
The 45-minutes later start would have the elementary buses leaving Lawrence Avenue at 3:55 p.m.
“I think that will raise significant concerns,” Chambers said.
The district will hold community forums Thursday, March 28 and Monday, April 8, to present three options to change the school start time for middle and high school students, and potentially elementary students.
In March of 2016, a poll was conducted asking parents and staff if they supported looking into changing start times based on scientific research of sleep recommendations for youth. 79 percent of staff and 66 percent of parents approved.