PORT ANGELES – Could middle and high school students in the Port Angeles School District start school later in the day?
The district is surveying staff, parents, and students about the moving the start of the school day about ½ hour.
Superintendent Marty Brewer says many districts have either made the move or are looking at starting the day later for adolescents.
“Research has been very clear, recently, around later start time. It really benefits, not just the academic success of a student, but the mental health of a student and the social emotional, you know, feelings of a student. So I think the time is right,” said Brewer.
But a decision for Port Angeles schools hasn’t been made yet.
“Depending on how the feedback comes here, and if this is a non-starter for our students or our staff or our community, then that’s one thing. No decision will be made until the survey is completed. And then, you know, the board will weigh into this conversation,” said Brewer.
Brewer says one of the issues with changing schedules is linked to transportation
“What drives our system is our transportation. And so we have our eight sites, and we have to get all of our students to school at a reasonable start time. And so, really, it’s trying to piece it together like a big puzzle to make,” said Brewer.
Other districts have moved start times to later. Sequim moved to an 8:15 start time, similar to what Port Angeles is proposing. Bainbridge Island High School doesn’t start until 9 am.