The late start conversation continues

By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d'Alene School District officials will be spending the next month weighing the pros and cons of starting the school day a little later.

"We will bring a resolution back to the board in May for them to consider," spokesman Scott Maben said Tuesday. "It will state how we will go about looking into this issue."

The school board and Superintendent Steve Cook discussed the next steps for examining late start during the board meeting on Monday. A large ad hoc committee may be one option to gather a healthy cross section of opinions from elementary, middle and high school communities, and public input will be a priority.

Bus times, scheduling and other factors will be considered, as well as the impact on neighboring school districts.

"We’re not looking to make a decision right now,” Cook said to the board.

Vice Chair Lisa May said she doesn't think the board would want to go "head-to-head" with current research from sources including the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control that have said students need more sleep.

"I think we can all probably agree that many of our students are sleep-deprived,” she said. "That’s affecting performance, mental health issues."

Trustee Tom Hearn said he would like to see the issue explored.

"I think the science is there, but there’s also a lot of practical things we have to look at, and I do think that the community needs to be consulted. I think it’s a mistake to say we would have this ready for next fall without consulting the community," he said. "I understand the urgency to move along this way, but I also think the community needs to weigh in."

Trustee Tambra Pickford expressed that she is not in a rush when it comes to making a decision and Trustee Jennifer Brumley said she feels education is necessary for the public before input is gathered so people can make educated decisions when giving their opinions on the matter.

"I just need a lot more information," said board chair Casey Morrisroe.

The subject of starting the school day later has been brought to the board by multiple community members in the past several months during public comment opportunities at school board meetings. The topic will come back to the board May 6.