The Brighton School District is taking a close look at the start times for every school in the district.
A committee appointed to examine the issue has developed asurvey to get feedback from parents, staff, administrators, and eighth grade and high school students.
The American Medical Association recommends that middle and high school students start their day no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to ensure that they get enough sleep.
Middle school students in Brighton currently start at 7:45 a.m. and high school students start at 7:40 a.m. Younger students arrive at school later in the day. Council Rock Primary begins at 8:15 a.m. and French Road Elementary starts at 9:00 a.m.
Superintendent Kevin McGowan said there are a number of logistical and transportation issues affecting kids of all ages when you consider schedule changes.
"We're not interested in having our youngest kids on the bus very, very early in the morning; we think that defeats some of the purpose,” he said. “There's also a question of, if you start later, will some of the activities that take place after school be pushed to the morning. We wouldn't be in favor of that; it would sort of defeat the purpose.”
McGowan said the committee will report its findings to him and he expects to make a recommendation to the Brighton Board of Education sometime in January or February.
