Warsaw Schools Conducting Survey On School Start Times
WARSAW — Warsaw Community School Corporation is seeking the public’s opinion on changing its start time for students. The school recently released a survey asking residents of Warsaw questions related to the recent discussions of the start time for the schools.
“The discussion of start times came from a great amount of published research concerning the social/emotional and academic wellness of students,” explained Warsaw Superintendent David Hoffert. “A number of other school systems within the state have made this change over the past 10 years.”
Several studies revealed that “during adolescence, changes occur in the circadian rhythm of teens making it difficult for them to fall asleep before 11 p.m.” as the lack of sleep causing negative performances in school performance and physical and mental health.
Along with additional sleep, research has shown kids have more time to eat, and parents have found they no longer had to drag their teens out of bed due to the additional hour of sleep. Perhaps a bigger indicator to Warsaw’s consideration is a decrease in car accidents amongst teen drivers. As a result, Warsaw Schools is looking into trading the elementary and high school start times.
Warsaw High School would move from a 7:40 to a 8:30 a.m. start time while elementary would move from 9 to 7:40 a.m., following the pattern of most high schools starting by 8 a.m. or after including NorthWood and Wawasee.
“A school research committee was formed to review the literature and also survey the community … The survey process is very important in understanding the the many different facets impacted by a schedule change,” stated Hoffert.
Warsaw Schools, however, wants to consider how the transition would impact the community rather than just its students. It has been running a survey to consider the full circumference of this decision and is asking everyone in the community to participate. The survey will close on Friday, Dec. 22, and “the committee will then review the data after Christmas break,” according to Hoffert.
“At this point, it is only a research committee and no decisions or recommendations have been made. As a school corporation, we wish to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond through our survey.”