Thursday, August 31, 2017
YOUNGSTOWN
Different start times may prove better for both Youngstown City Schools students and parents.
As classes resume Tuesday for the district, students will be starting school at times that are different from last year.
“A later start time will give those students a better chance at getting a little more sleep so they can come to school each morning ready to do their best,” said school district CEO Krish Mohip in a statement.
“The changes just feel student-centered,” said Megan Mercado, a mother of two district students, who said she supports the time changes as benefiting the children.
Extracurricular activities will not be hurt by the new start and end times, Mohip added.
“Those activities can run into early evening,” he said.
Chaney High School begins classes at 9:25 a.m. with the first bell at 9:20 a.m., changed from 8 a.m. last year. Dismissal is at 4:30 p.m.
At East High School, first period begins at 9:15 a.m. with the first bell at 9:05 a.m. The last period of the day concludes at 4:20 p.m., and students have until 4:30 p.m. to be out of the building or at their after-school activity.
Students at the district’s nine schools for pre-kindergarten to eighth grade will start classes at 8:15 a.m. Dismissal will be at 3:40 p.m. Those schools are Paul C. Bunn, Kirkmere, Volney, Harding, Martin Luther King, William Holmes McGuffey, Taft, Williamson and Wilson.
Youngstown Early College High School start at 8 a.m. with dismissal at 2:30 p.m. Rayen Early College Intermediate School students will arrive at school at 7:30 a.m. with dismissal at 2:50 p.m.
District spokeswoman Denise Dick said it is the hope of the city schools administration that later start times will benefit adolescents, and earlier start times for elementary children will benefit the schedules of working parents.
Studies show that adolescents who don’t get enough sleep can suffer physical and mental health problems, according to an Aug. 25, 2014, article released by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Chronic sleep loss in children and adolescents is one of the most common – and easily fixable – public health issues in the U.S. today,” said Dr. Judith Owens, pediatrician and lead author of the policy statement, “School Start Times for Adolescents,” published in the September 2014 issue of Pediatrics. “The research is clear that adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight or suffering depression, are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents, and have better grades, higher standardized test scores and an overall better quality of life,” Dr. Owens said. “Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn.”
Information on students’ bus stops and bus numbers is available on the district’s website at ycsd.org. Go to “Departments” at the top of the page and scroll down to “Transportation.” From there, follow directions for the E-Link Parent Portal to find a student’s bus assignment information.
Bus routes are being finalized as student addresses are confirmed and updated. Postcards with student bus assignment information will be mailed to students’ homes soon.