In February, the Bethel Park School District circulated a survey to parents, students, and community members regarding potential changes to school start times.
The Bethel Park survey sought to gather feedback on the possibility of adjusting school start times to allow teenagers to get more sleep. This move comes as research increasingly shows the detrimental effects of insufficient sleep on adolescents' physical and cognitive health.
Dr. James Walsh, the Bethel Park School District superintendent, expressed his interest in exploring the benefits of later start times for high school students. "Everything I read, everything that's been shared with the committee indicates a lot of positive benefits to letting them sleep longer, both physically and cognitively," he stated.
Walsh highlighted the recent example set by a neighboring school, Upper St. Clair High School, which shifted its start time, granting high school students an additional half hour of sleep.
While Walsh acknowledges that many superintendents nationwide are considering similar changes, he believes Bethel Park is taking a proactive approach by actively engaging with the community on this issue.
Professor Wendy Troxel, a renowned sleep scientist at the University of Pittsburgh, emphasized the severity of the sleep deprivation crisis among teenagers. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that only about one in 10 teenagers regularly achieve the optimal duration of sleep, around nine and a quarter hours," Troxel explained.
Bethel Park High School currently starts at 7:25 a.m., requiring students to wake up early to catch the bus.
One potential solution the district is considering is swapping the start times of elementary and high school students. This would mean younger children start earlier, allowing high school students to begin their day later.
At press time, the start times subcommittee was still assessing insights from the survey, which closed in March, and weighing other possible factors. However, Walsh acknowledges that implementing any changes may face logistical hurdles, particularly regarding the availability of sufficient school bus drivers.
Despite these challenges, the district remains committed to prioritizing the well-being of its students. Hopefully, some insights gleaned throughout this process will pave the way for meaningful discussion on school start times.