Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Marysville rejects idea of a much later start for high schools
MARYSVILLE — Class times won’t change much in fall 2010 for students in the Marysville School District.
The five-member school board unanimously rejected a controversial option that would have created a significantly later start time for high school students.
Instead, the board approved Monday night a schedule similar to the current one. The new times will take effect in fall 2010.
The school day will run from 7:10 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. at Marysville Getchell High School, and from 7:35 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Many families will be pleased with that schedule. About 3,100 parents and students took a survey, with more than 80 percent supporting the early start times.
Respondents said a later start and release would clash with sports schedules, after-school jobs and the care of younger siblings.
School board president Michael Kundu was an early supporter of a different plan that would have bumped back the start of the day by more than two hours. Research showed that a later schedule was better suited to the sleep cycles of high school students, he said.
However, the desire of families in the district was clear, he said on Tuesday.
“The reality is that as a representative, you have to acknowledge the input and the feedback that the community provides you,” he said.
The board revised the times because of transportation concerns.
Marysville Getchell, the district’s new high school, will open in fall 2010. With no schools closing, the district will operate the same number of buses while serving the additional school.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.
The five-member school board unanimously rejected a controversial option that would have created a significantly later start time for high school students.
Instead, the board approved Monday night a schedule similar to the current one. The new times will take effect in fall 2010.
The school day will run from 7:10 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. at Marysville Getchell High School, and from 7:35 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Many families will be pleased with that schedule. About 3,100 parents and students took a survey, with more than 80 percent supporting the early start times.
Respondents said a later start and release would clash with sports schedules, after-school jobs and the care of younger siblings.
School board president Michael Kundu was an early supporter of a different plan that would have bumped back the start of the day by more than two hours. Research showed that a later schedule was better suited to the sleep cycles of high school students, he said.
However, the desire of families in the district was clear, he said on Tuesday.
“The reality is that as a representative, you have to acknowledge the input and the feedback that the community provides you,” he said.
The board revised the times because of transportation concerns.
Marysville Getchell, the district’s new high school, will open in fall 2010. With no schools closing, the district will operate the same number of buses while serving the additional school.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.
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