School start times uncertain

School board directors are still kicking around possible changes to school start times in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. A previously proposed change may be tossed, going from a “flip” to a “push.”

A previous board enacted a change in the start times for the 2017-2018 school year after two years of talking and researching the need for more sleep time for older students, those in middle and high school. Even then, directors said it might need to change again.

That first change moved the start time for those students back 25 minutes, from 7:35 to 8 a.m. Elementary school start times went from 8:55 to 9:10 a.m. This year, the board has been considering what members are calling a “flip option,” in which classes would go from 9 a.m. to 3:43 p.m. for the older students and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for kids in elementary school.

But that later start time would necessitate ending the school day later, and that has some administrators and school board directors concerned about a loss of class time because of early dismissals, especially for student athletes who would need to leave school early for games.

There are also concerns about bus turnaround times in the morning because there’s only an hour to get the younger students to their schools by 8, then get those buses back on the road for the later run for the older students.

 “There are some remaining challenges to the flip model,” said Assistant Superintendent Tim Hoffman during the board’s Aug. 8 work session. “The amount of class time missed by staff and students for early dismissals is certainly the most significant. In moving the start time to 9 o’clock, we definitely see a significant increase in early dismissals.”

Because of those concerns, the administration also offers a “push option.”

Director of Curriculum & Instruction Michael Audevard said the newer option is based on feedback the administration received from directors and members of the community. The push option would have secondary students in class from 8:20 a.m. to 3:03 p.m. and elementary students in school from 9:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.

Audevard said the advantages of the push option are that the start time is still 45 minutes later than before the times were changed five years ago, and that there would be less instructional time lost.

Other advantages, he said, include having the older kids get home before their younger siblings and that practices and games would end before dark.

Because the push model was just presented publicly Monday night, Director Erin Talbert said she didn’t have enough information to offer an opinion but said she’s eager to hear from the community. She also raised questions about how a change for U-CF would work with either no changes or different changes in other districts.

Superintendent John Sanville said it’s always difficult getting a dozen districts on the same page for all concerns, but that some other districts in Chester County have gone to a push model.

Director Steve Simonson said he’s concerned about early dismissals.

“Early dismissal for any reason is kind of a surrogate for a missed teaching or learning opportunity, which is a surrogate for decreased learning,” he said and asked rhetorically if there’s any information about whether there is a threshold where one can see an impact of decreased learning.

“Can you miss 10 last periods and still expect to be well educated in that subject?” he asked.

A PowerPoint presentation on the subject can be found here.

Anyone with comments or questions should send an email to sst@ucfsd.net. The administration will make a final recommendation on Oct. 10 and the board will vote on a possible change during its Oct. 17 meeting. Any change would go into effect for the 2023-2024 school year.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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