The Mason City School District is exploring options regarding school start times and seeks input from students, parents, staff and community members, the Journal-News reported.
Recent brain research has shown that implementing a later morning start time for middle and high school students benefits teens, whose sleep cycles shift around the time they enter puberty. Because of shared buses, proposals to change the secondary schools’ start times may also change elementary school schedules, and may cost more than today’s bus schedule.
Changing schedules could also impact families’ current childcare arrangements, and students’ current extracurricular activity schedules.
There are many factors and options to consider, and getting feedback is a critical component in determining the best school start times, the district said.
The district is currently surveying Mason parents and students in grades 7-12. Surveys ask students, and there will be no change to school start times during the 2018-19 school year.
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