Public Rings in Opinions at MCPS Bell Times Hearing (PHOTOS)
There were two hours of testimony in the bell times public hearing Thursday afternoon, the first of two hearings on the issue of whether to change the start and end time at the county’s schools.
The meeting time allowed for 31 speakers to express their views on the proposals offered on bell times.The hearings were held at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Many of the speakers pointed to pediatric health studies as reasons to move forward the middle and high school start of the day. Others recounted stories of their children who could not hear their alarm clocks in the morning because they were sleeping so soundly and struggles other students have with early morning classes.
The school board has been considering a change in bell times. The Board had requested that Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr present options that would allow high school students to start school later and cost less than $10 million a year. The Board made the request after the district decided not to move forward with a previous bell times recommendation due to the significant costs—at least $21 million a year—and mixed community support.
Starr has suggested shifting start and end tines by 20 minutes. He has also said he would support no change in the current bell time schedule.
Other options proffered that fit the parameters set by the board but were not supported by Starr include:
- Start elementary schools first (with variations for start times and length of school day)
- Modify the superintendent’s proposal from October 2013 to reduce costs
- “Split” the high school day into two start times (leaving unchanged elementary and middle school start times and length of school day)
Mandi Mader, chair of the Montgomery County chapter of Start School Later, Inc. suggested the county find a way to start school for high schoolers at 8:30 a.m.
“We all make adjustments and this would be one of those adjustments that would have to be made,” she said.
Michael Rubinstein, a parent of a Blake High School student, called Starr’s proposal of a 20-minute shift in start and end time “laughable” adding that he believed Starr was “dragging his feet” on making a more substantial proposal.
Allison Erdman, an MCPS high school teacher, however said an adjustment in the school day could negatively impact teachers who work at MCPS but live outside of the county.
“It would cause us to commute in rush hour,” she said, adding that teachers who have children attending school in another county might also have difficulty in coordinating two school day schedules. She said the move could lead to staff leaving their jobs with MCPS.
When asked by MyMCMedia to respond to some of the comments made Thursday, Starr flatly refused.
Board President Patricia O’Neill said she was anxious to hear all the testimony before making a decision on the options. At-large board member Philip Kauffman said he was leaning toward backing a plan that would create a 35 minute shift for middle and high school students.
The board is expected to vote on the bell times issue Feb. 10.
Public ready to sound off on #bell times proposal.@mymcmedia @MCPS pic.twitter.com/2MoqqGMZTd
— krista brick (@lmjpbrick) January 22, 2015
Robert Frost Middle School sixth grader says more sleep would have students grinning for Monday.@mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/TYbTeGN9lp
— krista brick (@lmjpbrick) January 22, 2015
Back to School: Enrollment Up, Start Times Moved Back, Superintendent Search Resumes
Montgomery County students head back to school on Aug. 31 and there may be more students in our district than ever before. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) officials expect to welcome 156,654 students, an enrollment increase of more than 2,800 students over last year, according to MCPS Spokesperson Dana Tofig. So what else is new […]
New Start Times for MCPS Students (VIDEO)
When Montgomery County School students begin classes on August 31st, the bells will ring later in the morning – middle and high schools will start 20 minutes later and elementary schools will start 10 minutes later than in years past. This is in response to the scientific evidence that adolescents need more sleep as well […]
MCPS Releases New Bell Times
Montgomery County Public Schools has released the new school starting and ending times—also known as bell times—for the 2015-2016 school year. Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Board of Education voted to change bell times for the next school year, in order to provide students—especially those in high school—the opportunity to start school later. Starting next […]
School Bell Times to Change (VIDEO)
The Board of Education voted to push back school start times for all students beginning next school year. MCPS-TV has the story. Visit our PEG partner MCPS TV to view more of its local programming. Related:
County Report This Week (VIDEO)
MyMCMedia’s Sonya Burke hosts the latest episode of County Report This Week, which includes reports on school start times, the new public safety training academy, a report about the Department of Liquor Control, the high school swim and dive championships and more.
Five Things to Know Today, Feb. 11, in Montgomery County
Here are five things to know today, Feb. 11, in Montgomery County: 1. It’s a hot topic, that’s for sure: Montgomery County school board members have voted to push back school start times beginning next year. 2. There could be a big change in the way Montgomery County sells alcohol if Montgomery County leaders agree […]
School Will Start Later in Montgomery County Next Year
Montgomery County Public Schools students will be able to sleep in a little more next year. After lots of discussion and lobbying by parents and students, the Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve on Feb. 10 the superintendent’s recommendation to move school start times back 20 minutes for middle school and […]
Five Things to Know Today, Feb. 10, in Montgomery County
It’s cold and icy out there. Drive safely. Here are five more things to know today, Feb. 10, in Montgomery County: 1. Will Montgomery County Public Schools teens be able to sleep in? The Board of Education is scheduled to make a decision on bell times at today’s meeting. 2. School board members are also […]
"Sleep in Protest" For Later School Start Times (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)
Montgomery County students, parents and their supporters held a “sleep in” protest in front of the school system’s headquarters in Rockville on Feb. 9. “Save Our Sleep” supporters gathered with blankets, sleeping bags and together they shouted, “What do we want?” and they replied, “more sleep.” The Board of Education is considering a change in […]
School Start Times on Table for MCPS School Board (VIDEO)
If you have an opinion on whether Montgomery County Public Schools should change the times schools start and end, you have just one more week to let the school board know about it. The MCPS Board of Education recently held two public hearings on the topic of changing school start times. MyMCMedia’s Krista Brick has […]
Engage us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Tweets by @mymcmedia