Garnet Valley School District Delayed Start Times for Secondary School Students

GVSD Start Time Committee

Our work as a committee will evolve and flex as we develop a collective understanding of the topic. Some sub-topics that we plan to analyze and explore include:

  • Research, Science, and Parenting–We will analyze and explore the science behind delaying start times. We will discuss what time is the right time to start school in Garnet Valley as well as tips, techniques, and strategies to help parents and students get a better night’s sleep.
  • Transportation, Scheduling, and Economic Implications–Based on the committee’s direction in conjunction with the research, we will analyze and explore the implementation of the various start times and their implications on transportation, scheduling, and the district’s operating budget.
  • Student Implications–We will analyze and explore the implications for students regarding delaying start times.
  • Employee Implications–We will analyze and explore the implications for teachers and support staff regarding delaying start times.
  • Parental Implications–We will analyze and explore the implications for parents regarding delaying start times.
  • Alternatives Through Innovation–Based on the current educational trends in education and industry, especially in regard to leveraging technology to provide blended and online modes of learning, are there other ways to provide students with a more flexible schedule?

Important Dates & Benchmarks

  • January 28th–Final Committee Selection
  • January 29th–Meeting with Student Council
  • February 3rd–Meeting with GVMS Faculty
  • February 6th–Dr. Gurubhagavatula Presentation
  • February 10th–Meeting with GVHS Faculty
  • February 12–Committee Meeting
  • February 26–Committee Meeting
  • March 11–Committee Meeting
  • March 26–Committee Meeting
  • April 23–Committee Meeting


START TIME COMMITTEE PARTICIPANT LISTING

START TIME COMMITTEE MEETING PRESENTATIONS

Committee Mtg 1.pdf
Committee Mtg 2.pdf

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This section of the website will address questions that have come up through the committee or through the Google form on this website. Sample questions and answers appear below.


Q.) Does the district have a preferred outcome regarding this issue?

A.) No, this is an open process and we plan to explore and research the topic to make an informed recommendation. At this time no decisions have been made.


Q.) If the district delays start times, will dismissal time need to be adjusted as well?

A.) Most likely. The district is mandated by the Pennsylvania School Code to maintain the required 900 hours for elementary students and 990 for secondary, so dismissal times will need to be adjusted as well.


Q.) If the district decides to delay start times would it begin next year?

A.) Although no decisions have been made, implementing a change of this magnitude would be extremely difficult in time for the 2020-2021 school year.

Q.) What flexibility do we have with the way the school day is structured?

A.) The number of instructional hours in a school year is to be at least 450 for half-time kindergarten, 900 for full-time kindergarten and elementary, and 990 for secondary.


Q.) What are our current start and end times?

A.)

  • GVHS: 7:32 AM– 2:38 PM
  • GVMS: 7:30 AM–2:24 PM
  • Elementary Schools: 8:55 AM–3:10 PM


Q.) What is a 2 tier and 3 tier bus system and what are the pros and cons of each?

A.) Currently, the district runs a 2 tier system. Buses transport the secondary students (middle and high school) and then return to transport the elementary students. In a 3 tier system, each level would be transported separately.

Q.) How much time is currently needed between bus runs from secondary (middle and high school) and elementary Schools?

A.)

  • HS/MS run times: 20-25 min (9 routes); 26-30 min (16 routes); 31-35 min (16 routes); and 36 min (5 routes)
  • Elementary run times: 20-30 min (13 routes); 31-35 min (9 routes); 36-40 min (10 routes); 41-45 min (4 routes); 46-50 min (3 routes)


Q.) Will traffic become a problem if we delay start times?

A.) Increased traffic is a possibility. More traffic could extend students’ ride time.


Q.) If the district changes start times and the bus rides are longer, will more parents drive, causing more traffic issues at the middle and high school?

A.) With proper planning, we believe that bus runs would not be longer.


Q.) Can parents opt out of transportation to reduce costs and needs?

A.) No–a seat must be provided for every student, in case of an evacuation


Q.) Do we have the ability to ask the private schools who use our transportation to change their start times?

A.) No. Public schools have no decision making powers related to private and parochial schools.


Q.) Are there any grants or offsetting options in regards to transportation?

A.) Not at this time. The district had hoped that the Governor’s Commission Report would recommend state funding for changing start times, but to date, there are no plans for the state to cover expenses.


Q.) Could the transportation schedule shift so that elementary school has the earliest pickup/drop off and then middle and high school?

A.) It is a possibility and other school districts have accommodated delayed start times in this manner. The committee is looking at all possible options.


Q.) How many students play at least one sport?

A.) There are 473 high school students and 232 at the middle school.


Q.) How many students play two or more sports?

A.) There are 664 high school students who play two or more sports and 442 at the middle school.


Q.) What is the average number of early dismissals for sports during the school year?

Q.) How many students are in the Marching Band and Color Guard? When do they practice.

A.) There are 123 in these programs and the band practices Mondays and Wednesdays 6-9pm from September through the first week of November.


Q.) After their after school music programs at the middle school?

A.) Yes. There are various programs that practice at least one day a week that include:

    • Flute Ensemble (approx. 15-20 students) 2:30-3:30 starting in January
    • Symphonic Orchestra (approx. 35-45 students) 2:30-3:30 starting in January
    • Jazz Jags (competitive group) (approx 35-45 students) 2:30-3:45 starting in October
    • Select Chorus (approx 15-25 students) 2:30-3:15 starting in September
    • Guitar Ensemble (approx 5-15 students) 2:30-3:30 starting in January

Q.) How many students participate in the GVHS Performing Arts Program and when do they practice?

A.) There are anywhere from 140-200 students with 90-150 in high school and 30-50 middle and elementary students . About 25% of the actors and pit musicians are in a fall sport and/or band so half of the practices start after sports practices end times during the weekdays in the fall.


Q.) How would delayed start times affect vocational education students?

A.) There are 59 Garnet Valley High School students who attend the Career and Technical Centers. We have students who are enrolled in Medical Careers Program that runs from 7AM to 9:30 AM at Chester Crozer Hospital, students who attend the programs at the Aston Campus that runs a morning sessions from 7:30AM to 10:30AM or an afternoon sessions from 11:15AM to 2:15PM, and students who attend the Folcroft Campus that runs from 7:50AM to 10:30AM. Those times would not change regardless of Garnet Valley’s start times.