Dist. 93 eyes new start times

School board members in Carol Stream Elementary District 93 are considering changing the schedule for all schools within the district for the first time in at least a decade.

The proposed schedule changes, which could take effect as soon as next school year, would have a start time of 8:45 a.m. for the district's two middle schools. The proposed start time is 45 minutes later than the current schedule.

The district's six elementary schools would begin school at 8 a.m., one hour earlier than the present schedule.

School officials said research indicating adolescents need extra sleep prompted them to consider the altered schedule system.

Superintendent Hank Gmitro said any change to the school district's class times would have to be made by December or January to give District 93 time to make changes to its busing contract for next school year.

The school board spent Thursday evening debating whether to make the decision or seek feedback from parents in the district.

Michelle Lents, one of the school board members seemingly most in favor of changing the schedule for next year, said the school board has a responsibility to provide its students with the best possible learning environment.

"Every single thing I've read indicates later start times benefit our (middle school) kids," Lents said. "Because the research is unequivocal, we need to lead and do it."

But other school board members are concerned the changes would be resisted by parents who fearing complications to the daily drop-off and pickup schedules of their children.

"I just want to do it the right way," board member Tony Cicero said. "Whether or not it gets blessings or complaints (by parents), we have to get the pulse of the community."

The school board is expected to review a mailing at its Oct. 25 meeting that would explain the proposed changes to parents. School board members are also expected to decide that day whether to wait for input from parents before voting on the proposed schedule change.