CCB MEDIA PHOTO Monomoy High School
CHATHAM – The superintendent of the Monomoy Regional School District is considering a change to school start times next year.
Scott Carpenter made the recommendation last week to the school committee and presented research which he said points to the benefit of a later start time for teens.
Carpenter is recommending flipping the start times for the elementary schools and the middle and high schools beginning next year. The result would be an 8 a.m. start for the elementary schools and an 8:55 a.m. start for the middle and high schools.
He also sent a letter to parents with a copy of the presentation made to the school committee which summarizes the research on school start times and children’s natural circadian rhythms.
Carpenter cites a study from the University of Minnesota from 2014 which outlines the benefits of a later start for high school students.
“There’s also a study that was published this past year from some researchers at Harvard and the University of Oxford that speaks to even the circadian rhythms of younger children – 10 year old children,” Carpenter said.
The study recommended start times for elementary students closer to 8 a.m. and almost 10 a.m. for high school students.
Carpenter said that a 10 a.m. high school start would not be viable, but does believe a later start time can work.
The presentation did outline possible concerns of the start time shift including the impacts to high school students after school jobs, sports and other after school programs and the impact on families that rely on older siblings to care for younger elementary aged students.
“We would just need to make sure that our after school programming and supports are ramped up and ready to support those families that need the help there,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter added that the Nauset Regional School District has changed to a later start time for the older students and have not had problems with the sports programs.
The next step is for the district to hear from residents.
“Ultimately we want to get the input of everyone and weigh what’s right for our community,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter expects the School Committee to take comments on the proposal next Wednesday.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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