State College Area School Board and district administrators on Monday continued discussions about proposed changes that would extend the elementary school day and provide a later start time for middle schools and the high school.
Superintendent Bob O’Donnell asked the board to consider voting at its Oct. 9 meeting to authorize continued development of the proposal and to vote in December on approval of the changes. The new times would be implemented for the 2018-19 school year if approved.
O’Donnell said there isn’t a perfect solution, but the board will consider whether the proposed changes better meet the needs for student learning.
‘Is it better than where we are?’ O’Donnell said. ‘And we do have two options. That will be the decision. Is it better than what we’re currently doing? Is it better for all kids than what we currently have?’
District teachers voted in April to approve a contract change in support of a proposal to provide more planning and instruction time at the elementary level and later start times for the secondary schools.
Elementary schools currently start at 8:44 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m. Under a revised proposal, the elementary school day would be extended by 44 minutes, starting at 8:10 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m.
Middle school start and end times would shift from the current 8:10 a.m.-3:14 p.m. to 8:40 a.m.- 3:42 p.m. High school times would move from 8:10 a.m.-3:16 p.m. to 8:40 a.m.-3:40 p.m.
For the elementary schools, the current school day of six hours and six minutes is among the shortest in the state. The proposed change would add 24 minutes of core instruction time each day, more time for art, library and physical education and a fifth special class each week.
A world language has been floated as a potential fifth special, but community forums have elicited other ideas as well, O’Donnell said.
‘Although we believe there’s quite a bit of interest in the world language piece there’s been quite a few other ideas that have come forward that make a lot of sense too,’ O’Donnell said. ‘Our goal will be to find the best opportunity.’
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Vernon Bock would work with a Parent Teacher Student Organizations and conduct parent surveys to further explore the fifth elementary special option.
O’Donnell added that the district should help students and families with adjusting to new sleep patterns with the earlier start time.
‘The key to that part of the transition would be helping families with highly qualified experts,’ he said.
The longer elementary day would result in no increase in homework, and could result in a reduction. The district is currently working on a revised homework policy.
For middle school and high school students, the current start time is in opposition to sleep research that recommends a later start time for adolescent and teenage students, the district has said. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a start time between 8:30 and 9 a.m. for middle school and high school students.
The high school proposal could include a ‘zero period’ in the morning and potential online learning options to meet flexibility needs for students who participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
O’Donnell said that Athletic Director Chris Weakland has had conversations with other athletic directors and the Mid-Penn Conference about more efficient scheduling for State College’s sports teams.
‘We want to prioritize, regardless of what transpires with the day, trying to schedule more strategically so students miss less learning time,’ O’Donnell said.
The district is continuing to evaluate transportation and staffing costs that would result from the change. The addition of a fifth elementary subject would require eight to 10 additional teachers resulting in staffing costs of about $1 million. For transportation, the addition of equipment and driver costs would add an estimated $250,000 annually, down from an initial estimate of $500,000. Three bus drivers would need to be added to accommodate the new schedule.
Different transportation scenarios will be developed for SCASD and non-SCASD bus routes will be developed to better understand the cost impact. Charter and private schools are not required to make their schedules align with the public school district.
The proposal was created in collaboration with teachers, staff, parents and community members to align ‘with the district’s strategic goals to engage and support the whole student, foster continuous growth for every child, and close individual achievement and opportunity gaps.’
Board member Penni Fishbaine said she knows O’Donnell and the administration have for years been looking at ways to increase student learning.
‘Behind the scenes, the heart of this matter is to help improve student learning for all students,’ Fishbaine said. ‘For that I really applaud the administration because I know the reasons behind this.’
She said she understand the concerns that have been expressed by families about the earlier start time and longer day for elementary students. Though Fishbaine said she personally doesn’t think the proposed start times are perfect, she added she hopes families can look at the benefits for all students.
‘An extra 44-minutes with nurturing professionals in my mind is a good place to be,’ Fishbaine said.
‘I don’t want us to let the perfect be the enemy of the good here,’ board Vice Chair Jim Leous said. ‘I think we have a pretty good proposal, a pretty good thesis for why we are doing this… I appreciate what you’ve done so far and I’m looking forward to what you’re going to do in the next couple of months.’
Leous said he would like to see a plan for assessing the change before it comes to a vote in December.
Board member Laurel Zydney said positive conversations have come from the proposal but said she thinks more time is needed to fully evaluate the impacts for students, families and the community.
‘I think it’s important we really have a picture of what extending the day will look like in the life of a child,’ Zydney said.
‘My biggest concern is the pace. I know there is a desire to do it soon, but taking time will allow us to deal with those impacts.’
Informational sessions planned
Several more opportunities are planned for families to learn more about and discuss the proposal.
An informational session will be held on at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Mount Nittany Middle School.
‘Coffee and conversation’ sessions with board members and administrators will be held as well. All sessions will be from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
– Thursday at Panera Bread, 1613 N. Atherton St.
– Oct. 2 at Schlow Centre Region Library
– Oct. 4 at Panorama Village Administrative Center
