Last Wednesday night, our local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school board found four votes on a measure setting scheduled start times for students in the coming school year, but it wasn’t easy getting there and a big decision has been handed to a new committee yet to be appointed.

There were two votes that failed to receive the required majority of four votes (out of seven total board members).  One motion offered did not pass because no other board member seconded that motion, meaning no other member of the board supported it.  Finally, on the third try, a motion by HSE Board President Michelle Fullhart was approved, but barely, with the minimum four votes.

Why did our local elected school board appear so divided on the issues of school start times and a revised bus schedule?  After covering this issue over the past several months, the board was divided, in my view, because the school community was (and still is) divided.

During a podcast recording done the day after that board meeting, Superintendent Allen Bourff arrived at the same conclusion.

“We came to the meeting (Wednesday) night with seven board members with seven very different points of view,” said Dr. Bourff . “Those points of view were reflective of the very different points of view out in the public right now.”

In case you haven’t been following this issue, this discussion began with two proposals offered by school administrators.

First, a 3-tier bus transportation system would ease the bus driver shortage and allow the elimination of early release for students on Mondays.  It would also eliminate the need for most shuttles between school buildings.

Second, there is growing scientific evidence that high school age students need more sleep, and moving back the class start time would help those students have that extra sleep.  Of course, the other side of that coin is that elementary students would then be reporting for class earlier.

When the public comments began rolling into school officials, a clear split in opinion could be seen.  Many supported moving back the high school start time but moving up elementary students reporting time in the morning.

But many others pointed to downsides of the change, such as high school students not being available to watch younger siblings in the late afternoon.  There were other family related issues raised.

Here is the important point here – this is a very tough call for our elected school board.  Board members want to be responsive to the public and also do their own evaluation of the options.  But with the community split, our elected officials are split, and that should be no surprise.

Another important point – I have listened to this debate and have come to the conclusion that there are very valid points on this issue….not just on two sides, but many sides.

There have been complaints from time to time that local officials do not always represent the community in their actions.  This is a case where the board is reflecting the public on these issues.  The public is split and the board is split.  Sometimes, that happens in democracy.

As things stand now, there will be some tweaks to the start times in the upcoming school year to accommodate the new bus scheduling, but there will be no “flip” of start times for high school and elementary classes.

However, what happens to school start times beginning in the following school year, 2021-2022, will be up to a committee that will soon be appointed and charged with studying all the data and coming back with a recommendation to the board later this year in October.

The start time debate is not yet over.  I would encourage everyone interested in this issue to keep up to date on developments.  One place to do that?  Right here at LarryInFishers.com