RPS 535 New Bell Times for 2021-2022

Given all the research showing the benefits to middle schoolers and high schoolers of later school start times and given that these students have been on the later start time schedule since this past March, 2020, when distance learning began, it makes absolutely no sense to now go back to the early start times for this group. RPS school board, please do right by these secondary level students and follow the advice of the Mayo Clinic sleep medicine experts and let middle and high schoolers continue with the later start school start times that are currently in effect.

Teenagers need more sleep, so a later start time for them would be very beneficial!

Middle school student

Mayo HS student

Later start time, please.

I strongly believe that implementing later school start times would contribute to the overall health and well being of middle and high school students in Rochester, and be consistent with forward-thinking communities who have already made school start time adjustments in other parts of Minnesota and the United States. According to the consensus statement by the Minnesota Sleep Society, "This increased sleep duration with later school start times shows increasing benefits in emotional regulation and depression, safety and risk-taking, cognitive and academic performance, and even athletic performance. Current evidence from these studies supports reduction in car accidents, improved mood, improved attendance and alertness in class and less tardiness." Distance learning seems to be an ideal time for RPS to fully support and adjust secondary school start times in accordance with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

It is going to be difficult enough for students returning to school after what is likely to be at least a year away due to the pandemic. Don’t make it worse by having them revert to the early start times. Not having to wake up before 6:30 am has been the silver-lining to this cloud of distance learning.

Waking up this early does no good for students. Many kids feel ill eating this early which doesn’t let them eat a proper breakfast, and later start times would give students more focus during their first few classes because they would be more awake.

I agree with earlier time for school.

The research is clear, changing the time immediately is in the best interest of the students.

The research findings are clear. Despite being a health-based community, we have failed to implement a basic best practice that supports the health of all students- optimizing sleep. Other communities have this figured out. Please use data and creativity to implement earlier school start times in 2021.

Let’s send our kids to school when they can best learn. It is as simple as that. Money should never be an issue in our affluent commiunity.

The school board is way behind the science. Don't wait.

The entire time we lived in Rochester our children attended Rochester elementary, middle & high schools. I had said over the years "school day starts too early and ends too early." It appears the start and end times benefit the staff/teachers and bus drivers schedules. Which is ridiculous. Our children are grown and now our grandchildren attend Rochester schools. It's been backwards- the elementary students should start earlier because otherwise they have to go to daycare or get themselves off to school because parents work! Then middle & HS students should start later. HS students work, in sports, they have homework etc. Morning healthy snack and milk should be offered for all students when they come in the morning- so they are ready to learn. Longer lunch time for kids to eat. My grandkids said they had to slam down their lunch food to get to class on time. Everything is rush-rush then to sit in a class room where half the time the teachers have them watch a movie! Students need to get out of school later than 2:30 or 3:30 - they have too much time on their hands. Less homework- do work in school! I don't like to work all day and then go home and do more work until I go to bed. It's understood there needs to be homework, but geez! Looking from the outside in...have heard teachers are very focused on getting tenured. Our children have recently moved to get our grandkids out of Rochester schools for several reasons. One of my grandkids at Rochester high school said "there are fights every day at school- I want out, I hate it there". How to bring down the tension? These are my thoughts & opinions thank you for the opportunity to speak to the subject of our schools.

Please change the start times for middle schools and high schools for 2021-2022 school year. It’s science, duh!

The science is clear. Why make our students suffer for an extra year?

Having lived in Winona, where the school start time was changed a number of years ago, I witnessed the clear benefits of having older students start later. Moving to Rochester in 2019, I was very surprised and saddened that this positive change has not been implemented here.

Yes, start the new bell times in 2021-2022. Looks like the studies and public discussions have covered the ground adequately. Don't hedge now.

Long overdue!!

I strongly urge the school board to implement this new schedule for the health of our young people. Now is the time to plan and be ready. Our students have faced so many challenges this year. The new schedule will improve their health and well being.