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Dist. 220 start time survey going out tonight

Members of the Barrington Area Unit School District 220 community will have the opportunity to weigh in on which of the three start time options they prefer in an online survey.

This evening, a link to the survey will be emailed to all district parents, middle and high school students, teachers, support staff, administrators and community members who have signed up to receive the district newsletter. A link to the survey will also be posted on the district's website.

The finer points of the study, which the district expects will take under five minutes to complete, were discussed by the school board for about two hours at a special meeting Monday night. The survey will describe each start time option and ask respondents to indicate their favorite and make comments about it.

After picking their favorite choice, respondents will be asked if they prefer their choice over the current schedule, which the Input 220 committee concluded in the spring was unhealthy and should be changed to give students more sleep.

Board member Angela Wilcox said she is looking forward to seeing not only which start time scenario is preferred, but also which subset of the community prefers which option.

"Our educators are in charge of educating our children so I definitely value their perspective," Wilcox said. "That's not to say I value it more than parents, but I think you have to review that data under a different lens."

The survey will be closed Saturday night at midnight so the staff can prepare the data for the board to review at the Monday, Oct. 4, meeting.

Residents also are encouraged to share their start time opinions with the board at two town-hall meetings next month.

The first meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 11 at Lagendorf Park, 235 Lions Drive in Barrington. The second meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Barrington High School.

The board is expected to vote Nov. 1.

District 220 schedule proposals

<b>Scenario A </b>Elementary: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Middle: 9 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

High: 8:30 a.m. to 3:21 p.m.

Cost to district*: $343,200, down from June estimate of $510,000 to $600,000.

<b>Scenario B </b>Elementary: 9:15 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

Middle: 8:25 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

High: 8 a.m. to 2:51 p.m.

Cost to district*: $17,740, down from June estimate of $450,00.

<b>Scenario C </b>Elementary: 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Middle: 8 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

High: 8:30 a.m. to 3:21 p.m.

Cost to district*: $288,288, down from June estimate of $450,000.

*Assuming the state continues providing District 220 with transportation money

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