School Board Delays Decision on High School Start Time

The Menomonee Falls School Board isn’t in any rush to change the start time at for the next school year.

After receiving a healthy amount of input through a survey, emails, and last week, the board and the administration decided it was best to develop a few alternative proposals for the 2012-13 schedule before moving forward.

Just three years ago, the School Board switched the starting time at the high school from 7:05 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. after receiving a recommendation from administrators back then.

The board had originally planned to vote on the proposed schedule Monday, but decided late last week to keep the topic as a discussion item. The original proposal would have changed the starting time at MFHS from 8:05 a.m. to 7:14 a.m., and students would be released early at 1:40 p.m. on Wednesdays. 

Superintendent Patricia Greco said in an the initial proposal was created to help alleviate the number of missed classes due to extracurricular activities at the school, and to build more time into the school year for staff training and development.

“Nobody’s mind is made up on this. We are well aware that it was only three years ago that we changed the start time to a later time,” said School Board President Kathy Shurilla. “With all of these developments and discussions, the administration said they would like a little more time to formulate some other alternatives.”

Shurilla said alternative proposals would be presented to the board sometime in late January or early February.

Falls resident Annette Virlee was appreciative that the board decided to take more time before voting on a revised schedule. She asked the board to consider delaying a decision even further until the current teachers contract expires next year, and the district would have more flexibility in crafting the employee schedule.

“Keep in mind that some of the constraints on what they are trying to put together are in the current contract and that contract goes away in another year,” Virlee said. “Making a decision with those constraints that are limited may not be in the best interests as well.”

The district is bound by contract with the Menomonee Falls Education Association for one more year. The board , and approved a two-year agreement. According to the contract, the school day consists of eight consecutive hours between 7 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Before the meeting, Dolores Skowronek, of Greenfield, was asking attendees to sign an online petition for later school starting times. She attempted to speak at the meeting, but comments are limited to Falls residents.

The original proposal to push the starting time earlier received resistance during a School Board roundtable discussion last week, and speakers continued to voice concerns Monday.

After citing several studies on the effects of early start times and its impact on the adolescent sleep cycle, Jeff and Patricia Franks left the board with a warning.

“Is the school district at risk for lawsuit if kids get into an accident due to dosing off while driving? Could there be negligence suits here? We don’t want to waste money from lawsuits,” Jeff Franks said.

However, the district may find itself in a situation where no one will be happy whatever the ultimate decision is. Student Board Member Andy Stoiber said the sentiment on the school start time is split.

“Some kids like waking up early, and others like sleeping in. There’s really no one way that is going to please everyone,” Stoiber said. “It’s a toss up in many ways.”