Milford School Committee Discusses Later School Time Start

MILFORD, MA—With a conversation led by the school's physician, the Milford School Committee revisited its look at the possibility of later start times for the schools, particularly middle and high school students.

At the Oct. 5 meeting, school physician Felix Perriello staunchly supported the action, backing that support with scientific studies that overwhelmingly agree that young people simply do better-an all aspects-if they can wake up a little bit later.

Perriello said that based on body chemistry, teenagers cannot fall asleep successfully before 11 p.m. So, he adds, if you've got a start time of 7:30 p.m., they aren't getting the eight and a half to nine and a half hours that their minds crave to function well.

Milford High School's classes start at 7:50 a.m. and Stacy Middle School's classes start five minutes earlier than that.

"I think that we all believe that adolescents do not get enough sleep and that's been a given for generations," Perriello told the committee. The evidence shows that they do not get enough sleep. It has to do with a circadian rhythm that determines the cycles. In the 12-20 years old, the sleep-wake cycle is different from their earlier years because of the delayed release of melatonin. It comes out later when puberty begins, so they really can't get to sleep before 11 at night, and they need 8 and a half to 9 and half to function well. It's as simple of that. The American Academy of Pediatrics, which I have been a member of since 1970, considers this a public health issue."

Committee member Scott Harrison added that in a survey conducted about three years ago, students, teachers and parents alike overwhelmingly supported the idea of later start times for the schools. Committee members suggested digging up that data, as well as reaching out to other state districts that have already made the change.

So what is the down side of moving the start times later? Superintendent Kevin McIntyre addressed that the schedule shift would affect busing, teachers' contracts, extracurricular activities and sports, and also the schedule already established by families with their kids and jobs.

Harrison repeated that collective bargaining negotiations for another year are coming up soon for teachers, and that studying-and changing-the start times would better be done now than later.

"Several things start to happen when it's an 8:30 or later start time," said Perriello. One is they feel better. They do better academically, they have less anxiety and less depression and suicide ideation, they are less likely to have automobile accidents...they are healthier, less likely to be obese, and also less likely to not show up for school and more likely to graduate. The evidence is overwhelming."

"This has come up several of times over the past couple of years," said Harrison. "One of my asks is that the administration team look into school systems that have done this in Massachusetts. The challenge is the logistical component. We would rearrange the bus schedule and we'd have it as part of our collective bargaining agreement. The post school activities at the high schools pose some of the challenges, but there are other systems that have done it."

Are you in favor of later start times for Milford public schools? Share your feedback in the comments section.

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