With another school year coming to an end, SPS is already planning ahead for the 2021-22 school year; with many changes coming including a new superintendent, SPS also plans to change the school start times.

The new system which will be enacted at the start of the 2021-22 school year has 3 tiers.
The first tier is for High school students. They will now start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
The second tier is for Elementary school students. They will now start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
The third and final tier is for Middle school students. They will now start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

The decision to change the start times came as the district is making changes to its transportation system. They plan to expand routes to be more inclusive of students who live within a 3.5 mile from there school. But with this change, came changes to school start times.

While the reason behind the school start times changing is a positive for the district and it’s students currently unable to get a bus ride, students still feel concerned about the change in start times.

“School start times being earlier is bad for High school students mental health,” said freshman Tylor Wiles.

Wiles is not alone in their beliefs, the cdc.gov has continuously expressed concern about school start times being too early. According to a study used by the CDC in their assessment of school start times from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, they note that teenagers between the ages of 13-18 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep in order to function properly. However due to puberty teenagers typically go to bed later and wake up later in the morning.

For now students of all ages throughout the district will have to prepare to make adjustments, to accommodate for the new start times set to take place next year.