School may use flexible start time

Research indicates that teenagers don't function well early in the morning, so Hudson High is considering an alternative.

By KENT FISCHER

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

HUDSON -- Sleepy students at Hudson High School could stay in bed a little longer next school year under a plan that would allow some kids to start school later in the day, said Hudson principal Greg Wright.

The plan is little more than an idea at this point, but Wright said he would like to add two class periods to the end of the six-period school day. Students who sign up for the later classes could skip the day's first two periods. Hudson's first-period bell rings at 7:50 a.m.

"It's always hard to get the kids here that early because they're kind of still asleep," Wright said. "We'll see what the demand is (for the new schedule), and if there's enough, we'll go ahead and implement it in August."

High school periods run roughly 45 minutes. Students who opt for the later start wouldn't have to come to school until after 9 a.m., but would have to stay until about 3:30 p.m. Hudson's final period currently ends at 2 p.m.

The new class schedule would not be available to all kids. Students who ride a school bus wouldn't be able to participate because it's doubtful the district will alter countywide bus schedules to accommodate the plan, Wright said. And students who participate in after-school sports or other activities probably won't be able to partake either, because their games and activities are often coordinated with the schedules of the district's other seven high schools.

Even so, the idea makes sense, Wright said, in light of some new research which found that puberty alters teenagers' brains so dramatically that their sleep patterns get knocked out of whack. Their changing brain chemistry makes it nearly impossible for teens to fall asleep early because their brains stay wide awake well past 10 p.m. Those same changes also make it tough for teens to function early in the morning, the research has found, because their brains don't wake up until mid-morning.

The School Board has discussed the idea of moving back high school starting times at a few recent meetings but has never taken any action on the idea. A handful of school districts around the nation have adjusted their high school schedules in light of the new research.

Pinellas schools investigated such a change recently and found mixed support for the idea. Nevertheless, Pasco officials think a later start for high schoolers isn't such a bad idea if it's well-planned.

"The idea has some real possibilities," said Bob Dorn, the district administrator in charge of high schools. "But we need more specifics: what courses will be offered, how will they pick the teachers, which students will be involved."

If the idea proves a success, it could provide some powerful evidence that all the district's high schools should be giving students the option of starting later in the day, Dorn said. Right now, few administrators see a compelling reason to monkey with the current system.

If Hudson moves ahead with the plan, a handful of teachers would have to adjust their schedules, too, in order to teach during the new periods. The new schedule won't run afoul of any union or contract rules because teachers wouldn't be asked to work longer hours than they currently do; their work schedule would merely amount to a later shift, Wright said.

The idea came out of a committee of teachers and administrators writing the school's annual improvement plan. The committee examined different ways of structuring the school day, such as longer class periods.

Wright said he is surveying the faculty on the idea. He also plans to survey students before any decisions are made.

"We're always trying to find better ways of providing services to our kids," Wright said. "We're hoping this will be beneficial to some teachers and those kids who function better a little later in the day."

-- Kent Fischer covers education in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6241 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6241. His e-mail address is kfischer@sptimes.com.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.