Bell Time Committee Report Charge : Fact finding, research based, viable bell time options worthy of additional consideration ( within the limitations imposed by NYS tax cap )
Reason for the Committee Growing concern on school start time based on research High School starts too early ➢ ➢ Students are deprived of needed sleep - negative impact on health, safety, learning, etc. Research conducted by such organizations as: American Academy of Pediatrics ➢ American Medical Association ➢ Additional information can be found at: Centers for Disease Control ➢ http://www.startschoollater.net http://sleepcenter.ucla.edu/sleep-and-teens http://www.center4research
The Committee Established Ground Rules No debate on the research or the value of sleep Research indicates that start times of 8:30 a.m. or later is beneficial ➢ Purpose of Committee is not to debate merits of existing research ➢ (control groups, circadian rhythm, harmful effects of sleep deprivation, etc.) Committee is charged with fact-finding Final report will present facts only ➢ The only recommendations will be potential next steps for BOE ➢ consideration Review possible options and identify viable option(s) worthy of further consideration, keeping in mind: A change must be fiscally possible given restrictions of NYS Tax Cap ➢ A change must be meaningful (15 minute change is not beneficial) ➢ A change should not merely sacrifice one group of students for another ➢ group (such as simply swapping HS & MS times)
University of Minnesota (2009-2013 CDC funded study) 9,395 students grades 9-12: Minnesota (5), Colorado (2) and Wyoming (1) Findings indicate benefits for start times of 8:30 a.m or later, such as: Improved attendance rates ➢ Better academic results ➢ ➢ Less depression Less use of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and other substances ➢ Reduction in local car crashes ➢
What is Circadian Rhythms? Daily cycle (roughly 24 hours) in living things - controlled by a portion of the brain (hypothalamus) Like an “internal clock” synchronized to external cues such as sunlight, darkness, temperature, etc. (dark, for example, causes the eyes to send a signal to brain, then the brain sends a signal to body releasing melatonin - resulting in sleepiness) This “internal clock” helps you wake up at the same time every day without an alarm clock when sleep habits are regular & provide sufficient rest (anyone who has flown across time zones or has done shift work understands the effects of being “out of sync” with their internal clock) Research indicates that this cycle changes as puberty begins - average adolescents still need nine to ten hours of sleep each night, but tiredness does not come until one to two hours later
Rockland High School Start/Dismissal Times HIGH SCHOOL Start Time Dismissal Time Clarkstown South/North 7:25 2:00 East Ramapo HS 7:38 1:56 Nanuet HS 7:20 2:00 North Rockland HS 7:25 2:06 Nyack HS 7:30 2:14 Pearl River HS 7:34 2:42 Ramapo Central HS 7:30 2:05 South Orangetown HS 8:15 3:00
Rockland Middle School Start/Dismissal Times MIDDLE SCHOOL Start Time Dismissal Time Clarkstown MS 8:58 3:33 East Ramapo MS 9:14 3:40 Nanuet MS 7:50 2:50 North Rockland (7-8) 8:27 3:21 Nyack MS 8:05 2:50 Pearl River MS 8:00 2:30 Ramapo MS 8:00 2:35 South Orangetown MS 8:15 3:00
Rockland Elementary Start/Dismissal Times ELEMENTARY Start Time Dismissal Clarkstown Elem (Early Schools - 4; Late Schools -5) 8:00; 8:22 2:35; 3:05 East Ramapo Elem (1-3; 1-6) 8:05; 8:35 2:40; 3:10 Nanuet Elem 9:00 3:30 North Rockland Elem (4-6; K-3)) 8:42; 9:07 3:21;3 :46 Nyack Elementary Schools 8:50 3:20 Pearl River Elem 9:00 3:15 Ramapo Central Elem (2 schools; 1 school; 2 8:35; 8:40; 3:05; 3:10; schools) 9:05 3:40 South Orangetown Elem 9:15 3:40
Other School Districts with Bell Time Changes S. Orangetown CSD - even though a neighboring district, they already had a 2 tier bus system & were closing a building - so no financial consequence Putnam Valley CSD - moving to a 2 tier bus system (with cost of $220,000) & planning and implementation will be 4 year time frame Schnectady - starts at 8:30 a.m. - remainder of Capital Region starts between 7:10 - 7:50 a.m. Athletic program has been impacted and athletes sometimes miss their last period. Valley Central - 17/18 changes implemented without due deliberations; change did not work and was changed back to original HS start time back (next time they will use a process and seek more stakeholder input)
Established Subcommittees Health, Wellness & Athletics Chair: Joe Sigillo Educational Performance, Co-curricular & Student Interests Chair: Nicole Saieva Asst. Chairs: Dave Johnson & Gina Cappiello Transportation & Coordination of Schedules Co-Chairs: Gloria Menoutis and Karen Sher
Health, Wellness & Athletics Subcommittee Discussions centered around how a later start time affects student health, game contests and practices, including: Study time ➢ Sleep habits ➢ Impact on students participating in away events when lengthy travel ➢ Determined any dismissal time after 3:05 p.m. means student athletes ➢ will need to be dismissed early to arrive at event on time Impact on Middle School athletes who play on HS team ➢ Must plan to transport MS students to the HS prior to HS dismissal ➢ time ● Must plan to supervise MS students once they arrive at the S ● Plan for supervision of MS students until practice begins
Educational Performance, Co-Curricular & Student Interests Subcommittee Reviewed current research articles related to the topic & created survey questions for various stakeholders ➢ Students Parents ➢ ➢ Staff Identified possible avenues of communication ➢ Let’s Talk Community Forum ➢ ➢ Peachjar District’s Website ➢ ➢ Nyack High School Spectrum
Options Reviewed Committee started with the 2014-2015 options presented by consultant and added other ideas for a total of nine (9) configurations on various bell times Options were evaluated and eliminated based on the merits and whether they met the Committee’s Ground Rules Revised option 8 to include revisions 1, 2 & 3 (basically the same bell times - with different time allocated between the bus tiers) The only option determined viable was Option 8 Revision III, which was renamed simply “The Option”. Note: the “Option” only provides the current time allocation between tiers - which may not be realistic given traffic patterns - we all know that as the morning gets later traffic gets more congested when there is a problem on NYS Thruway (the possibility of more late buses must be considered further)
The “Option” OPTION 8 Revision III Arrival Start Time End Time Departure NYACK HIGH SCHOOL 8:05 AM 8:19 AM 3:05 PM 3:10 PM 50 Minute Delay Current High School 7:15 am 7:30 am 2:14 pm 2:20 pm NYACK MIDDLE SCHOOL 7:30 AM 7:45 AM 2:30 PM 2:35 PM 20 Minutes Earlier Current Middle School 7:50 am 8:05 am 2:50 pm 2:55 pm NYACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 8:50 AM 9:05 AM 3:35 PM 3:40 PM 15 Minute Delay Current Elementary Schools 8:35 am 8:50 am 3:20 pm 3:25 pm
Potential Costs Busing Depending on enrollments in any given year, could require 1 -2 ➢ additional buses to keep the same length of bus runs (17/18 cost $72,538 per bus) Extending a.m. supervision and morning program (long line of cars currently waiting by 7:45 a.m. as some parents are anxious to drop students when doors open at 8 a.m. so they can get to work or other activities) Current cost is approx. $42,000 ➢ Delayed start time will cost additional $4,500 ➢ ■ Note: elementary main office clerical start/end times will need to be staggered so staff is available to call parents if an elementary bus needs to return to school (no one to meet child)
Next Steps: Gather Stakeholder Input I mpact on Families Before and after-school childcare & elementary morning program ➢ Elementary students may arrive home after dark on short winter days ➢ Impact on Staff & Contractual Negotiations Impact on Students After school jobs, study time, sports, co-curricular, etc. ➢ First period attendance and/or concentration ➢ Logistical Issues Mock transportation runs ➢ Will more buses arrive late to school? (the later it gets, the worse ➢ the local traffic becomes when NYS Thruway backs up) Changes on a larger scale will make implementation easier (any ➢ interest from other school districts: Rockland, Lower & Mid Hudson region, or even Statewide changes?) To assist with next steps, the subcommittees compiled lists of suggested survey questions
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