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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, November 9, 2009 Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville By Eric Stevick Herald Writer MARYSVILLE — A later start to the day for high schools isn’t likely to happen in the Marysville School District next fall. Students, parents and school employees have overwhelmingly urged the school board to abandon the idea in Web surveys and public testimony. The board is expected to decide on starting times at its Nov. 16 meeting, but three of the five members have indicated they would likely vote for earlier starting times after hearing concerns from students and local residents. One option calls for a 7:10 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. schedule at Marysville Getchell High School and 7:35 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck. Far less popular has been a second option proposing a 9:25 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. day at Marysville Getchell and 9:50 am. to 4:30 p.m. day at Marysville-Pilchuck. Opponents to the late-start option said it could have a big impact on sports and other extracurricular participation, as well as after-school job opportunities. Some parents also said they depend on their high school students to care for younger siblings after school. Morgan McFalls, a Marysville-Pilchuck sophomore, who teaches piano lessons after school, said the late start would be too disruptive for students. He predicts the district could see an enrollment drop if it adopts that option. “I love my school, but not enough to stick around for this,” he said, adding “You run the risk of losing me and others like me.” The school day at Marysville-Pilchuck now starts at 7:20 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. School board members said the late start option was worth studying because national research supports a later start for high school students as a way to be better rested for classes. Board member Sherri Crenshaw said the later bell schedule was worth looking into, but “I personally don’t think it’s a good idea for our community.” A 2005 study published in the medical journal Pediatrics concluded that students have special needs in their sleep cycles and “school schedules are forcing them to lose sleep and to perform academically when they are at their worst.” School board President Michael Kundu was an early advocate of the late start idea, but said the wishes of the community are clear. “I am inclined to support what the community wants,” Kundu said. “I understand there is a wealth of logic and science that support the late start but I need to take the pragmatic over the progressive (approach) in this case.” A Web survey found 88 percent of the 2,140 Marysville high school students to weigh in on the options preferred the earlier starting time. Of the 930 parents and local residents to respond, 84 percent backed the earlier starting times. Among staff members, there was a 65 percent preference to the earlier classes. Arden Watson, president of the Marysville teachers union, said she hasn’t sensed any public support for the later starting times. “I wish there had been some other options that would have worked,” she said. Under either option, the starting times for the two schools will be staggered because the district is allowing students to attend either high school campus regardless of where they live. Students from both schools will share the same buses, meaning students from Marysville-Pilchuck will be shuttled from Marysville Getchell in the morning and students from Marysville Getchell will make a stop at Marysville-Pilchuck at the end of the day. The net effect is an extra 25 minutes a day on the bus for students at both schools. Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Priorities Later starts does not make sense for children. In all honesty all that is saying to children is we have later starts so ok now your new bedtime is 11 to 12 instead of 9 to 10. When children get out of school and start jobs, what company says "you need more rest, lets have you start at 10 AM." High school is not just about education but preparing students for real life circumstances. We have to teach our children that you need to work with obstacles life gives to you. By changing everything to cater to needs, we give the impression life will do that and what a rude awakening children will have when life does not cater to them. Another issue is most parents have duel working families. They start jobs between 7 and 8 am. Your child is left alone for close to 2 or 3 hours. Who will ensure they get on that bus? You may be the greatest parent in the world but peer pressure can rear it's ugly head. Also, there are children that work after school, getting out later will not allow them to work. Some families struggle financially and if a child wants to work to earn money for clothes or things they need, the law says they can work at 16 (some 14 with signatures). Look outside the box and at the bigger picture. Sheryl Moss | Nov 9, 2009 11:22 am | 3 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal It is about priorities. But whose? You are correct. Children should not have a late start. Young adults should, and we are not doing that currently. People are too focused on the status quo. Issues like child care, sports, and jobs can be worked out even with a later start schedule for our young adults. Sports can be conducted in the morning. Jobs can also be worked before school. Are we serious about student learning, or are parents just looking for glorified babysitters? Start the little ones early (7:30am) and start the big ones later (9:30am). You will increase student learning over night. People who truly care about having a smart population see this as a no brainer. People who have priorities to the contrary like to see the status quo and then complain about it later (like schools are failing). Melissa Metzger | Nov 9, 2009 2:53 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Priorities Starting later improves student learning (Google relevant research by Mary Carskadon). The reasons given in the article here for keeping the start time as is are to avoid impacting sports, piano lessons, and to keep high school students available for baby sitting. Are these activities more valuable than academics? Is this the best decision for the students or the most convenient decision for the adults? S. Kelsey | Nov 9, 2009 6:39 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Hopefully Will Listen If the board members are really representing the Marysville population, they will vote for the earlier time, as it is clear the public (parents, students and teachers) are not fond of a late start time. Voting for the late start time would be following a personal agenda versus listening to the majority. When 88% of the students say earlier, and they are the most affected... the choice is clear! I agree with the student who said he would abandon Marysville, as we would also leave the district. In fact the late start idea was such a damaging possibility that several of us parents had already contacted three other districts who would gladly accept our students! We were willing to put together carpool solutions to transport elsewhere (and still will if the board is selfish enough to vote against public desire). Why are two drastically different options the only ones being put to public opinion vote? Could it be a ploy so that when our children are out in the wee hours of the morning waiting for a bus of entrapment for too long (because of the transportation nightmare the district has created)..... that the board will say, well you selected early? Yes, they might be gaming us. LiLi | Nov 9, 2009 6:47 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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