Please let us know if you attend the rally before the meeting. Seeing photos from Twitter; looks like a good crowd at the rally. The West Seattle Blog is there reporting. I am going to attempt to live blog so you will see abbreviations, spelling/grammar errors, etc. I will clean it up but I think it is worth trying to do. I will be refreshing the page as I go. I am sad to see that apparently President Liza Rankin is not even going to allow 10 people over the regular 20 to testify. Just five. Also, right at the beginning, the Board has stuck in, after Board comments, a Progress Monitoring presentation. They could have put it at the end but they didn't. They think - in 45 minutes - they can do Superintendent comments, Board comments and this presentation. I doubt that public testimony will start on-time. Tone-deaf doesn't even cover it with Board leadership. To note, apparently the district scheduled the NE community meeting on closures on Rosh Hashanah which is October 2. I
Comments
elementary parent (third tier)
I am all for later start time for middle and high schools!
makes Sense
Ringo
There is a national initiative to Start School Later that began in the fall 2011. Historically local groups have had a difficult to impossible time getting school districts to change this, so people across the nation are joining forces. On the website startschoollater.net you can find lots of scientific support for starting school later.
The petition for legislation with >500 Wa state signatures was presented to Senators Murray and Cantwell last week in WaDC. Now is a great time to contact them with your support of this initiative.
I'm a sleep specialist here in Seattle, and greatly support this goal. If you'd like help with this locally please let me know. Unfortunately I can't make it to your meeting on the 26th.
Catherine Darley, ND
Steering Board member, Start School Later
One of the reasons we chose Hale was becaue of its late start time. Competing with other schools doesn't seem to be a problem.
Future Hale Parent
We are a flexible people. Maybe sports will go a little later. Maybe we'll shorten quarters. Maybe not everyone will think sports is the end-all and be-all of life. Maybe kids will actually get a better education.
Students who have jobs - that's the biggest because some families depend on income from kids now. Jobs that provide spending money for gas and activities; well, again I am for health during the growth years and education which will hopefully help provide a better income for a lifetime.
I hope this happens.
n...
HS students are naturally inclined to sleep in. Kids who are involved in sports can get up and go to practice in the morning, like lots of people get up and work out (great lifetime skill). Teens who work after school could get dismissed a period early and receive credit for working. It can be worked out; we can do it!
- HS teacher
ES mom
elementary parent (third tier)
Another 3rd tier elementary parent.
If you are interested, you can also join our mailing list to keep apprised of issues at the national level. I look forward to reading about your meetings and updates regarding starting local schools later.
Regards,
Maribel Ibrahim
Co-Founder, www.StartSchoolLater.net
thanks to all working on getting this changed! R Hill