Wednesday, April 22, 1998 | 9:50 a.m.
High schools would start an hour and a half later and elementary and middle schools would begin up to an hour earlier, if a proposal Clark County School Board members are considering is approved.
Board members at their regular 5:30 p.m. meeting Thursday at 2832 E. Flamingo Road will discuss a plan that would cause a giant re-shuffling of school day schedules throughout the district. The proposal's leading advocate said she wants the new schedule to take effect as early as next year.
"I truly believe that the research proves out that elementary school kids are more alert early in the morning," School Board member Judy Witt said. "High school students ... who need more sleep function better later in the day."
The changes would represent a somewhat ground-breaking step in school scheduling -- most districts nationwide cling to the early high school schedule.
But some recent research suggests that young school children are bright-eyed early in the morning and that older teens pay attention more after they have slept in.
At least some students agree. Valley High School junior Shawn Mooneyham starts school in an early-bird computer class at 7:10 a.m.
"It makes you tired and you drift off in class," Mooneyham said. "It's a good class, it just feels early. I don't like getting up early -- but getting out later, I don't know about that."
Other students interviewed at Valley said they liked the current schedule.
"High school students need to work," Valley senior Krista Kulesza said. Kulesza works at a sporting goods store for five hours, three days a week. She is among the 50 or 60 percent of Valley students who work, Valley principal Carol Leavitt said.
"I'm concerned about the students who work, some of them have to work for their families," Leavitt said. "I don't know what the plan would be as far as extra-curricular activities. Starting later isn't the answer educationally."
Busing is another complication. School busing officials will present a proposed schedule to the school board Thursday.
According to the schedule:
* Most elementary schools would start at various times: 8 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., or 8:45 a.m. The schools would let out between 2:11 p.m. and 2:56 p.m. School now run from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
* Middle schools would start at either 7 a.m. or 7:22 a.m. and let out at 1:11 p.m. or 1:33 p.m.
* Most high schools would start at 9:30 a.m. and dismiss at 3:41 p.m.
"It looks feasible, but we don't know what makes the people happy," Ronald Despenza, school transportation director, said. "Bell times are always a sensitive issue. It could cause babysitting problems for some families. It could affect teachers taking continuing education classes after school. It could cause people's work schedules to change. We don't know what all the repercussions will be."
Parent, teacher and student reaction seems mixed.
Valley High track and field coach Sam Richardson said track meets generally begin at 4 p.m. and last five or six hours. Later meets would make for sleepier students, he said.
"The kids are going to be tired tomorrow," Richardson, a science teacher, said Tuesday before a freshman and sophomore meet. "Hopefully, they will be able to get some homework done."
Some high school teachers said their students would benefit from extra morning sleep.
"Their heads are down, their little eyes are glazy, they're tired," Valley English teacher Stevi Carroll said of her first-hour class of seniors, some of whom work at grocery and shopping mall stores until 10 p.m. "They're up late at night."
Parent Iris Foster said she welcomes an earlier elementary school start time. She sends her children to day care at 6 a.m. until school starts because of her job, which starts at 7 a.m.
"I have three kids," Foster said. "Day care's not cheap."
But Valley High counselor C.J. Curry said her 8-year-old daughter wouldn't perform any better earlier. "She's a sleeper," Curry said.
Cashman Middle School principal Evans Rutledge said he has been lobbying for later start times because so many students are late for school. Many parents who work early and late shifts have difficulty getting their children to school, he said.
"Last but not least, 7 a.m. is not the most conducive time for learning for middle school students," Rutledge said. "That is much, much too early to make middle school students get here."
Witt said she anticipated some resistance to the proposed bell changes.
"Nobody likes change," Witt said. "Unless people understand the reasoning behind it, you don't usually get a solid reaction. I'm sure there is going to be some knee-jerk reactions against this. But I truly believe this is in the best interest of kids."
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