We, the undersigned, are against the proposed bell schedule for CCSD.

While we understand the importance for sleep for older students, we do not believe that their well-being should come at the expense of elementary- aged children.

We note that there are many reasons that this change should not be put in place. Among them are:

1. National Sleep Foundation recommends school-aged children need 10-11 hours of sleep a night. In order for these children to reach the recommended amount of time of sleep, they will now need to go to bed around 6:00 in order to make the buses and get to school on time. This is impracticable and unreasonable.

2. Children will now be getting off the buses earlier than usual. For parents on a fixed income, this will drastically increase the cost of childcare. In instances where parents cannot afford child care, they will be leaving their children at home unattended. This is OK for high school students who are legally allowed to be at home alone. This is not a safe environment for 5-11 year olds.

3. Kaleidoscope employees are made up of many high school students. Since these students will not be available to work, after care will have to employ adults at an additional cost- which will raise the cost of the aftercare options. This will be too much of a cost burden for all parents but especially those on reduced incomes.

4. Early bus times will have children standing at bus stops well before dawn. Because these children are young and many are unable to be alone at the bus stops safely, parents are often with them. In instances where parents have other small children, this will force those other children to be awakened during those pre-dawn hours to also stand at the stops. Conversely, high school students do not usually have parents standing at the stops with them and are able to do this on their own.

5. The start time for after school activities will likely not change. Since these activities will continue to last into the evening and children will be waking earlier, there will be a drastic cut into young children's sleep time or participation in well-regarded school programs.

6. Many high school students have expressed concern about the lack of time they will have for after school activities and jobs.

Please add your own concerns and opinions in the comment section next to your name.