LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Clark County School Board reviewed new survey data Thursday night on the possibility of shifting to later school start times, a change district officials say is supported by research on student sleep and development.
A countywide survey asked families and staff for feedback on pushing back start times for elementary, middle and high school students. Deputy Superintendent Jesse Welsh presented the results, noting that many respondents felt the change would be beneficial.
“Based on our knowledge of adolescence and childhood development that often times when students are in those teenage years their body clocks shift,” Welsh said. “It’s just more natural for them to want to get up later and stay up later, because that’s just how their bodies work at that particular age.”
The most common concern from parents involved drop-off and pick-up schedules and the impact a shift could have on childcare needs.
“We know before and after school childcare is a very important issue,” Welsh said. “So regardless of where things hash out with that, I think we’re pretty confident that we’re able to help meet the needs along with everyone in our community to be able to help us out.”
Because survey responses were generally positive, Assistant Superintendent of Transportation Amber Rideout presented five potential scheduling models — each with different transportation costs. The options ranged from a cost-neutral shift moving current start times later by 30 minutes, to the most expensive plan, which would require a one-time $17 million investment in new bus routes.
“Any of those other options that we’re looking at have some pretty significant costs both right at the outset and then ongoing,” Welsh said. “And so that’s really where we’re thinking we don’t necessarily have a specific spot where we’ve landed at this point.”
Welsh said he does not expect the item to return to the board immediately, but internal discussions will continue before any formal decision is made.
No action was permitted at Thursday’s meeting. Superintendent Jhone Ebert said both national research and local survey data show the benefits of later start times outweigh the drawbacks.
