Edina High School Start Time Decision Process
Here is the sequence of events that led up to Edina's decision to change the starting time of the high school:
1. April 4, 1994
Edina Public Schools Superintendent, Kenneth Dragseth, Ph.D., received a letter from Barbara Yawn, M.D., of the Minnesota Medical Association House of Delegates, urging school districts to eliminate early starting school hours for teenagers. Information was provided on scientific studies that supported her request. She also included a resolution that was passed in September 1993 supporting this stance. The superintendent reviewed this letter with his staff advisory council and with area superintendents. The superintendent noted to Dr. Yawn and the administrators that it was too late in the school year to make adjustments for 1994-95, but would consider it for subsequent years when we were in the process of setting starting times for schools.
2. January 9, 1995
Superintendent Dragseth received a letter from Diane Steen-Hinderlie of People for Reforming Early Start Time for Teens Organization (PRESTO) asking Edina to consider changing start times for teenagers based on scientific research and the recommendation of the Minnesota Psychiatric Society. The superintendent shared this information with his staff advisory council and with principals. This was also discussed at the bimonthly staff advisory council meeting, and it was agreed to pursue the issue to see if it was possible to do in the upcoming year.
3. January 1995
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education David Vick, Ed.D., received a survey form from Paul Fredrickson, M.D., president of the American Sleep Disorders Association, seeking information on times and the effect of sleep and healthy sleep habits. David Vick noted that start times do impact various functions of the local athletic conference and that Edina Public Schools would prefer to work jointly on the issue. Edina Public Schools also asked for the results of that survey.
4. January 24, 1995
The superintendent received a telephone call from a parent who had been at a Health Services Advisory Council meeting in January where Dr. Paul Greif, medical leader, of Park Nicollet spoke on sleep deprivation. The parent wanted to address the Edina Public Schools Board of Education on this issue. The superintendent talked with Dr. Grief about this issue and indicated his interest in pursuing a change in start times noting it would take sufficient work to prepare the community and students. The superintendent informed the school board chair of this request and issue.
5. February 3, 1995
The Board of Education and the superintendent received a letter from Dr. William Pfeffer, Edina Public Schools medical advisor, supporting the comments made at the January 23, 1995, Health Services Advisory Council meeting by Dr. Greif. Dr. Pfeffer encouraged the board and the superintendent to listen to Dr. Grief's comments and make appropriate changes. The superintendent discussed this issue informally with the board, and it was agreed this was an issue we ought to review for our students.
6. Winter 1995
All of this information was shared with principals and other administrators during the winter of 1995. The superintendent asked principals and assistant principals to look at this issue to see if it would be feasible for next year. After much discussion it was felt that there was not sufficient support within the athletic conference or the administrative staff at this time to make major changes. The idea had not been abandoned; rather, it was delayed to see if some of the obstacles could be removed.
7. Spring 1995
A task force on high school scheduling was instituted by Principal Ron Tesch. This move was a step designed to launch an effort to consider ways to restructure and improve the school structure in order to increase learning and student achievement. Part of the charge of this group was to review literature and research on innovative and/or effective options to the traditional high school schedule. The goal was to suggest alternative models that would create a better structure in which teaching and learning could be optimized. This task force, with the support of the assistant superintendent for secondary education, reviewed the sleep deprivation material that had brrn received by the district office.
8. Fall 1995
Discussion continued at the district level about the possibility of changing the start times for the high school. The superintendent discussed with conference superintendents moving the starting time of the high schools. The superintendents stated that they were interested and would be looking at the implications.
9. Late Fall 1995
The task force on high school restructuring became interested in pushing for the start of school to a later time, based upon the research reviewed and the positive reactions this idea was receiving. This issue was discussed at the Edina High School Site Council and received unanimous recommendation. This issue was the subject of dialogue with constituent groups of the site council representatives and received positive input. The Edina High School Parent Teacher Student Organization held an open session to gather parent input. The faculty met to discuss the pros and cons of instituting a later start. Student government reviewed the idea with the larger student population to get direction on how to vote when this was up for consideration at the site council. There was strong support for the later start time among the high school community. Subsequently, the site council voted to recommend to the district administration that the changes in start times be pursued. The principal shared this information with the high school community.
10. December 1995 - January 1996
When this issue was working its way through the high school decision structure, other Edina district administrators and the superintendent worked with district administrators, athletic directors and transportation staff in other districts to see if a decision to move to a later start time was contemplated. We encouraged a hard look at this issue.
11. February 1996
Ron Tesch, principal of the high school, shared the recommendation of the site council with the principals and the superintendent. The superintendent continued his support of a later starting time and felt that it was time to pursue an earlier starting time if it could be accomplished. He directed the transportation department to develop several "straw" person proposals to be reviewed that might possibly work. This work was done in conjunction with a Transportation Advisory Task Force that was looking at ways to reduce the transportation costs within the district.
12. March 1996
The transportation supervisor and staff developed a series of possible options. Building principals, district administrators and the superintendent examined each one to determine what plan would work for the district. Over twenty draft plans were constructed before there was one plan all could support. There was much discussion on the impacts on the elementary and middle schools, athletics, other after-school activities, and transportation. The superintendent shared his view that the district needed to move ahead with this change unless obstacles were found that could not be overcome. A consensus decision was eventually reached among the participants with a recommendation to the superintendent that the district change the start times for 1996-97. The superintendent strongly supported the decision and directed the district administration to facilitate the change with information going to the students, staff, and community. All agreed that the district prided itself on making decisions based on data, and because we had conclusive data that would help the learning environment of students, we ought to pilot the change for 1996-97 and study the results. This data-driven approach was an impetus for the change.
13. April - May 1996
Information on the new starting times was shared with all buildings by principals, parent organization leaders and conference superintendents by the superintendent, and the general community by the communications department. A transportation plan was finalized by the transportation department, and we were ready for school in the fall.
14. Summer 1996
The superintendent agreed to work with other metropolitan school districts to conduct research on the early high school starting time. He also agreed to work with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement(CAREI) at the University of Minnesota with a completion deadline of January 1997.
15. September 1996
The superintendent implemented the new schedule with appropriate information to students and parents.
16. Fall 1996
The superintendent conducted surveys for the research project and responded to numerous inquires, media interviews, and phone calls relative to the later start at the high school.