November 20, 2017
Dear Parents, Community Members, and Staff:
Based on current research and movement within public education across the nation, MSAD #11 has formed a Late Start Committee and is in the process of reviewing the positive and possible adverse effects of a later start to the school day for Gardiner Regional Middle School and Gardiner Area High School students.
The Committee was formed in September 2017, held its first meeting in October, and meets the first Wednesday of every month to review local, state, national, and internal data and research with the intention of making a recommendation to the School Board for or against adjusting our current school day start times. The Committee will look at a multitude of factors including but not limited to: transportation, elementary school transportation and start times, athletic schedules, students attending classes at the Capital Area Technology Center in Augusta, child care before or after school, community opinion, and family impact.
After the start of the new year, the Committee is looking to host a public forum where research and information will be shared with the community and a survey will follow aimed at students, staff, parents, and community members to gather input regarding any time change considerations.
Below is a link to an article the Committee initially read, as well as a website used to look at research and data promoting later start times. For further clarification, I encourage you to review both. The Committee will continue to post research and pertinent information on the district website as well as all updates for you to familiarize yourself with so that you can be an active part of the conversations surrounding the considerations of adjusting our school start times.
Article: http://www.kappanonline.org/later-start-time-for-teens/
Website: http://www.startschoollater.net/ and http://www.startschoollater.net/maine.html
More information will be provided at the public community forum, which has not been scheduled as of the Committee’s last meeting. Please check the website for information and future meeting notes.
Respectfully,
Crystal Peltzer
Director of Curriculum and Instruction