2016-11-17 - Discussion About Sleep Science

Post date: Nov 28, 2016 4:02:12 PM

The committee met on November 17th. Previously they had been asked to either attend or watch the Dr Owen’s Presentation on Sleep Science. For this meeting the committee members were placed into fours groups to discuss and reflect on what they had heard, to raise questions and to determine if we are ready to move forward.

To help guide the discussion and reflection the committee was presented with 4 questions

What have you learned about the research?
What is most compelling about the research?
What would you still like to know? What questions do you have?
Based on the research, are we ready to move forward to investigate options?

Below are highlights from each group’s discussion.

The consensus was to move forward. Although there are still questions to be answered and obstacles to overcome, we are ready to move forward to investigate options.

The next committee meeting will be Thursday, December 1st.

What have you learned about the research?

Group A –

Many correlations, maybe not causation?
Chester County driving data vs. national - local data may indicate that drowsy driving was not a local issue
Dr. Owens’ 8:30 or nothing comment - We understand that 8:30 is the target, but if we could move start times to 8:00 would we still see a benefit? and would that be worthwhile?
Shouldn’t we be addressing other items about the importance of sleep hygiene?

Group B -

We have sleep deprived students
There are clear safety and health benefits
There may be potential academic benefits
We all look at the research through unique and varied lenses

Group C –

Science behind later start is overwhelmingly supportive
Sleep patterns and needs change as kids age
Many health benefits of sleep
Correlation between increased sleep and decrease in at-risk behavior
The later start time will give parents and student the opportunity to choose how the time is spent (sleep, etc.)

Group D –

Science is compelling
Start times in USA – Bell Curve – UCFSD is at early end
Reduced car accidents

What is most compelling about the research?

Group A –

Dr. Owens - science aspect

Group B –

Health and safety issues for our students
Student driving – “Drowsy Drivers”
Students’ sleep cycle – Predictable patterns

Group C –

Science support
Health/wellness benefits
AAP, CDC, AMA support of 8:30 start

Group D –

Statistically significant – less depression (Edina), greater emotional well-being
Quality of sleep – last 1/3 of sleep
Fewer counselor visits
Students do sleep more with later schedule

What would you still like to know? What questions do you have?

Group A –

Twilight hours?
What about middle school students? At what age does the science have an impact?
Do we have a problem?
Can we survey sleep patterns at UCFSD?
Want to learn more about GPAs and impact
Want to learn more about student wellness and making a change
Impact on elementary schools
What have other schools found?
Is there a point in the day that is less productive for elementary kids?

Group B –

The number of tardy/car crashes in the area before school
Potential benefits for elementary students – lack of research
Impact on other districts – effect of change

Group C –

Impact of electronics in the bedroom
Impact of blue light/screen time on sleep
How elementary kids are impacted (minimal research)
Why schools who have investigated the change and chose not to switch decided to keep the status quo?

Group D –

What do we do about potential earlier dismissals for athletes?
Bummer for URA
Additional elementary school data?
Attendance data for daylight savings time (both ends) switch?
Can we find similarly (geographic) sized districts that have changed?
TCHS?
How many families rely on older children to watch younger ones after school?
Total cost to community if Flip?

Based on the research, are we ready to move forward to investigate options?

Group A –

Are we ready to move forward?
Want to know more about other schools. Should we look at school day and schedule?
What is the problem?

Group B –

Yes, we are ready to continue our investigation!

Group C –

Yes, we think that we should continue to investigate options

Group D –

UCFSD culture is OK with being first
If we do make a change, we must keep the AM time sacred.
Lights on Athletic fields?
Are we ready to move forward? YES

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