NEW CHS SCHEDULE MEANS EARLIER CLASSES FOR MOST STUDENTS

Most Columbia High School students will have to get to school earlier this fall under a new schedule that delays the beginning of the first period by 25 minutes, but mandates most students get to class 30 minutes earlier.

The new schedule follows years of complaints from many parents who said the previous 7:30 a.m. first period was too earlier, citing data that suggests students perform better when they get more sleep. 

A local Facebook page was even launched to push for later classes, titled "Parents for later school start at CHS" that boasts 120 members.

In the past, 35% of students attended the 7:30 a.m. first period, so this new schedule would delay their start time. But for the rest of the school, an earlier arrival will be required. 

The new schedule, released in a letter to CHS parents on Tuesday night, delays the first period to 7:55 a.m. But it also requires all students to begin their day at that first period rather than second period, which most attended at 8:25 a.m.

That means most students who had not been required to get to class until second period at 8:25 a.m. will now have to be there at first period at 7:55 a.m.

"This spring, we worked to develop a new bell schedule for the 2016-2017 school year that eliminates the early start for students ... and allows for all students and staff to work all day together," CHS principal Elizabeth Aaron said in her letter. "Our former bell schedule had teachers and students on a Periods 1-8 or 2-9 schedule, making it difficult for teachers to find time for professional development and collaboration during the day and to work with colleagues and students who were on different schedules."

See Aaron's entire letter HERE. See the new bell schedule HERE.

But the move spark mixed reviews on the Facebook page, with one parent posting:

The new bell schedule came out. They eliminated the 7:30 but school starts at 7:55, which is essentially 7:45 to enter and get to class, meaning that 60-65% percent of kids who would have started 2nd period now have an earlier school start rather than a later school start. I'm happy that our group may have helped push for the later school start, but disappointed that the district didn't follow the recommendations of public health experts.