An advisory panel is pushing to make drastic changes to the start and end time of classes for students at Barrington High School.
In a proposal to be presented to the District 220 board of education Tuesday night, the Input 220 advisory committee claims pushing back the start of the school day by as much as two hours would have a positive impact on students’ physical and mental health.
It’s a significant change that proves to be a divisive topic among students and parents in the district.
Currently, the school day starts at 7:20 a.m. at Barrington High School. Input 220 believes students would be more rested and therefore learn more effectively if class starting times were delayed until 9 or 9:30 a.m. The panel cites research showing optimal learning and emotional health for teenagers who are able to benefit from sleeping in later.
Some parents told NBC 5 they don't want the later start time, believing it will come at the expense of losing curtail instruction time in the classroom. As of Tuesday morning, a petition being circulated had garnered more than 250 signatures in opposition.
Input 220’s panel is scheduled to recommend three different proposals formally during the school board’s meeting at 7 p.m.
The board will be discussing the options presented for the next several months. A vote is expected this spring.
