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WHEELING - Ohio County Schools is next going to examine the length of school day at each school and see if minutes can effectively be trimmed as it looks to start the day later at Wheeling Park HIgh School.
Following a 42-minute discussion on the topic at Monday's board of education meeting, it was determined a committee of board members, administrators and parents will meet in one week to assess the length of education time at each school.
No two elementary or middle schools in the school district have the same length of day, and it has been that way for at least 30 years, board members acknowledged. Superintendent Kim Miller and David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools, both suggested the timeline was created to address transportation and busing issues across the district.
West Virginia requires schools provide a yearly amount of academic times based on the average of at least five hours and 45 minutes of educational time each day in the classroom. That figure does not include lunch time for students, or time between classes
At least an hour is added on to each full school day at each building in Ohio County Schools so that the district exceeds the maximum number of educational hours required annually under state law. The banked time becomes useful when school is delayed or canceled due to weather, and that time does not need to be made up at the end of the school year.
The committee has been charged with coming up with parameters for the length of school day, as well as times noting the earliest a school day could start across the district and the latest it could end.
Once those parameters are set, they will be presented to board of education members. Members then will consider whether to send them on to the Edulog company - who would then do a report to create bus routes to achieve the times.
Edulog did a similar study for Ohio County Schools in the past, and it determined more buses would have to be purchased and drivers hired to achieve a later start time at Wheeling Park HIgh School, where students currently begin classes at 7:25 a.m.
School board member Erik Schramm suggested afterschool activities would be affected by later start times and dismissals for schools. This wouldn't just pertain to athletic events, but also social programs provided by such organizations as Laughlin Memorial Chapel.
"We are able to do a lot more for students than other counties do because of our scheduling," he said.
Board president Andy Garber suggested the board table the issue Monday night until after the committee meets.
"My biggest concern is that we are not shorting out any of our students," he said. "We want to maintain instructional time. That is important - obviously, the most important thing we do."
At least one WPHS student is in favor of having a later start time there.
Senior Merritt Delk said she takes a full course load of classes, including advanced placement and honors classes.
She also plays soccer and basketball, and participated in club soccer in PIttsburgh.
"I am fortunate that I don't live far from the school, and I drive myself," Delk told board members. "The latest I can leave my house to arrive on time is 7:10 a.m. In order to achieve this, I can wake up as late as 7 a.m."
She said she knows many students have to wake up much earlier if they live further away or ride the bus.
"It is very hard for me to wake up each day and feel energized for a full day of school," Delk continued. "I find myself struggling to stay awake for some of my classes, and when I get home, I shut down.
"I often fall asleep trying to do homework, and have to stay up late to get it done. Sometimes it's hard to fall asleep at a time that may seem reasonable to most adults."
A teenager's body is "not equipped to go to bed early and wake up early," according to Delk.
"I assure you I would not mind staying later for a sports practice that ends an hour later than usual if it means my mental health and academic performance might benefit," she said.