Thirteen delegations spoke before the board, with nearly all expressing strong opposition to a proposal put forth by an Ohio County Schools committee that would push school start times back by 30 minutes. Four elementary schools that already have 9 a.m. start times would instead have their dismissal times pushed back by 15 minutes rather than 30 minutes.

The proposal also would allow high school students to take lunch during first period, permitting them to begin classes during second period and get more sleep.

Many students already forgo lunch to take additional classes.

The idea for later school start times, championed by board member Molly Aderholt, is based on studies indicating high school students perform better academically and experience improved mental health when their school day begins no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The day at Wheeling Park High School begins an hour earlier.

Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Board of Education President David Croft, left, and Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones preside over Monday’s board meeting.

While nearly all who spoke before the board Monday night rejected the idea of starting the day later, Scott Pettit, a member of the start-times committee, told board members he preferred an earlier proposal discussed by the board. That proposal would have had elementary school students start first, followed by high school students and then middle school students.

He noted that if his children were still in elementary school, he would share many of the concerns voiced by parents regarding child care, transportation schedules, extracurricular activities and the impact on work and family life.

But Pettit said he now understands how sleep deprivation affects high school students amid the many demands placed upon them.

He called the proposal now under consideration “a compromise” among board members.

Among those speaking was a contingent of Ohio County Schools principals led by Wheeling Park High School Assistant Principal Jack Doyle. He said building principals were not consulted on the issue of changing start times.

Photo by Joselyn King Wheeling Park High School Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, center, flanked by Bridge Street Middle School Principal Jacob Galik, left, and Wheeling Park High School Principal Meredith Dailer, address Monday’s meeting of the Ohio County Board of Education regarding the issue of later school start times.

“We believe it is important to acknowledge the perspective we bring to the conversation, yet no one standing here with me was ever contacted,” Doyle said.

“While the board serves the public through governance and oversight, school principals serve the same families and students every day …”

He acknowledged the scientific research regarding high school students and sleep patterns is relevant but “represents only one part of the conversation.”

Equally important, Doyle said, is a body of evidence showing elementary-age children learn most effectively earlier in the day. This must be balanced against adolescents needing more sleep and learning more effectively later in the day.

“As we consider changes that affect our schools, we should consider the full scope of educational research and the needs of all students …,” he said.

Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Board of Education member Molly Aderholt looks out at the crowd attending Monday’s meeting of the Ohio County Board of Education.

Tessa Weisenborn, director of Laughlin Memorial Chapel, said 68% of families participating in after-school programs there reported that later school start and dismissal times would affect their employment schedules. She recommended the current schedules remain unchanged.

Ashley Kuca, president of the Wheeling Park High School Faculty Senate, suggested “broader community engagement is needed before moving forward.”

Aderholt’s term on the board ends June 30, and she will be succeeded by Jerry Ames, president of the Ohio County School Service Personnel Association.

Ames said Monday that while he may not always have agreed with Aderholt, he respected that she has always kept students’ interests at the forefront when making decisions.

He noted he strongly opposes her push for later start times.

Photo by Joselyn King Wheeling Park High School Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, left, Bridge Street Middle School Principal Jacob Galik, and Woodsdale Elementary Principal Chalmer Moffett share conversation prior to the start of Monday’s meeting of the Ohio County Board of Education.

“While I understand that statistics are being used to justify this change, it is well known that data can be manipulated to support almost any conclusion,” Ames said. “What I see in practice does not align with the claims being made.

“Students involved in sports and extracurricular activities will be home even later than they are now, and transportation for after-school events will become more complicated. Earlier start times will not magically cause students to fall asleep earlier. They will simply go to bed later and wake up more exhausted.”

Suggesting students “opt out” of first period or lunch to sleep is not “a serious solution,” especially considering the importance of instructional time, Ames said.

He and others speaking Monday night also suggested the first-period opt-out would create inequities among high school students. It could be utilized by students who have their own transportation, but not by those who ride the bus.

Speakers also noted that lunch and other breaks during the day provide a necessary respite for young minds and help students learn more effectively in class.

Among those also speaking were Brea McCreary, Sara Templin, Jessie Robinette, Pete Chacalos, Alisha Curtain, Liam Curtain, Steve Burke and Amber Green.

Aderholt noted that while she may have championed the issue of later school start times, she is only one vote on the board.

“A lot of the speculation people have (about later start times) is countered by actual data,” she said. “Kids do not stay up later. They do get more sleep.”

Board President David Croft noted it was evident from the meeting that the public was not in favor of later school start times.

Likewise, the board has recognized over the years that it is “just not healthy” for high school students to have to get up so early to begin the school day, he said.

“We will as a board take into consideration what everybody had to say,” Croft said. “I am glad people showed up to share with us their concerns and thoughts.

“Needless to say, it was heavily favored tonight not to change. But there are some great points to consider in why we should change.”

The board will make its decision on start times at its next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. June 22.

Ames, Croft and board member Andy Garber, who were elected in the recent primary election, will be sworn into office during a special meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. July 6.