Elementary School A Particular Concern—

Panel Urges Moderation In School Scheduling

By Larissa Lytwyn

After months of researching the biological impact of adolescent sleep deprivation and related academic and disciplinary issues, the School Start Time Committee concluded that a more “moderate” school schedule, in which children would not be picked up before 7 am, should be established.

The committee was formed after concerns were expressed following the district’s shift this year from a four- to three-tier busing system.

The aim was to save money in the 2003-04 education budget.

Newtown Middle School students now follow the same schedule as Newtown High School while Head O’ Meadow, Middle Gate, and Sandy Hook elementary schools began school an hour and 15 minutes later, arriving home as late as 4 pm.

The committee lauded the ideal of a two-tier bus system, in which younger children were bused first, followed by older ones.

While acknowledging the financial impact of a two-tier system, committee member Wendy Leon-Gambetta, a parent, said the district should not “dismiss” it.

“We should at least give the time and energy to explore it,” she said.

She reflected on the growing interest in the school start time issue in towns across Connecticut, including Ridgefield, Bethel, New Canaan, and Fairfield.

This year, Wilton High School shifted its schedule 40-minutes later, running from 8:15 am to 2:50 pm.

Previously, the 1,162-student high school had maintained a 7:35 am to 2:10 pm schedule.

Recently, according to Ms Gambetta, a survey of Wilton High School parents found that, out of 135 respondents, 88 percent liked the new schedule better.

If the Newtown district remained on a three-tier system, Ms Gambetta proposed two possible tier combinations.

One possibility would be busing the elementary school students on the first tier, Reed Intermediate students and one elementary school, if needed, on the second tier, and high school and middle school students on the third.

The second, which she deemed “the most possible,” would involve elementary school students on the first tier, high schoolers on the second ,and middle school and Reed Intermediate students on the third.

“Having the middle school students on the third tier would really be by default,” Ms Gambetta was quick to note.

Though the committee had studied the negative impact of sleep deprivation on teens, Newtown Middle School Principal Diane Sherlock said that this year’s schedule had brought positive results, including fewer early dismissals.

Under the old four-tier schedule, the middle school had operated from approximately 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Middle Gate Elementary School Principal Judy Gallo noted the high number of early dismissals her students now have.

Committee member Peggy Baiad said that it was an exceptionally “long day for the little ones,” a sentiment shared by each of her fellow members.

The committee noted the number of elementary school parents who had voiced a number of very specific concerns about the long day, from longer bus routes to less play, family, and homework time, increased irritability and less enthusiasm for school.

The committee agreed that “priority” should be given to the elementary school students, with every effort made to end their day earlier, which for some is 3:22 pm.

Committee member Carol Recht noted “how the first tier is currently too early, the last tier is deemed too late.”

While she acknowledged the numerous studies on sleep deprivation, “establishing bedtimes is a family matter,” she said.

“While the school system can and should teach and encourage good sleep habits, it is not a matter which the school system is equipped to solve.”

Committee member Candi Dietter, an educator at Newtown High School, agreed that even if the schedule were changed “there could be no guarantee” that the students would get the additional sleep they should have.

There was some vocal parental concern over the lack of supervision that children, particularly middle school students, have in the afternoon between the hours of 2 and 6 pm, which studies indicate is the prime time for misbehavior and even criminal misconduct. Ms Sherlock lamented, however, that only seven parents signed up for the middle school’s after school program this year, despite its widespread publicity.

Ms Sherlock also questioned the level of concern over the current schedule, noting the low response rates to the committee’s recent start time survey.

While committee member Greg Gordan, a sophomore at Newtown High School, said he “wouldn’t mind” the start time being a little later, he added that he “appreciated” his afternoon time for homework and other activities.

Newtown High School Principal Bill Manfredonia acknowledged the ideal of a two-tier system and said that no student should be picked up before 7 am or dropped after 4 pm.

Committee member Greg Simon, Newtown High School’s athletic director, said that the athletic department would comply in any way to the committee’s wishes.

He agreed that a more moderate start time, in which students did not get picked up before 7 am or dropped off after 4 pm, would be “great.” He also addressed the “reality” of the situation.

While he noted that a major bus company like Dattco could add buses to help implement a more moderate school schedule, he said he loved the owner-operator system and would not compromise it.

The rest of the committee shared this sentiment.

Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff noted that the town had a “commitment” to the owner-operator system that should not be touched.

Committee member Lisa Schwartz, vice chairman of the Board of Education, said that the transition from a four- to three-tier system had been made “under duress.”

She noted that the four-tier system had been working; however, she recognized the positive way the three-tier system had impact Newtown Middle School.

She approved busing no student before 7 am or after 4 pm.

“I would also like to see no bus route longer than 30 minutes,” she said.

Currently, bus routes can run as long as 45 minutes or, according to some parents, even longer.

Ms Schwartz and Dr Pitkoff were upbeat, noting the changes of a new transportation director, new school board members, and an improved software system used for tracking bus routes.

Transportation Director Tony DiLonardo said that the committee also needed to consider that the buses also served a number of private schools, including Fraser-Woods, Abbott-Tech, Housatonic Valley, Nonnawaug, and St Rose.

Committee member Alan Clavette, who shared the committeewide belief that the elementary schedule should be earlier, said that St Rose would most likely be willing to have a dialogue on adjusting its schedule.

“I have had three children go through the St Rose elementary school,” he said. “There have been some schedule changes over the years to accommodate the district, and I think a dialogue could definitely be opened on this issue.”

Dr Pitkoff applauded the committee for their months of hard work and dedication, noting the consensus that the committee believed a two-tier system would be ideal and that the current third-tier system could be “tweaked” to perhaps create a somewhat earlier elementary school schedule and a slightly later high school one.

The priority, he added, would be the elementary schools.

“You certainly have your homework!” he said to Mr DiLonardo, laughing.

Dr Wollman suggested that the third-tier tweaking could be a valuable “first step” to future changes.

No significant changes will occur until at least the 2005-06 school year.

The committee plans to present its findings to the Board of Education in September.