Well, with these early start times that you call "crazy", students actually like the times! (A lot of them do). We get to get out earlier in the day instead of having to go to school later. We can spend more time doing what we'd like to do after school (including more homework time) instead of having to stay in school later into the afternoon.

I disagree with you. You really think a later start time will result in less behavior problems? I don't think so. So, why is it in some private schools (who start later), also have significant behavior problems in some cases? Ever think of demographics as a possible reason? Ever think that kids simply don't care? The principal is issuing brand-new reforms this year. Why don't we let him see what he can do FIRST about this issue? Car crashes? Ummm...that's not a good argument point. People need to get used to driving early. In real life, sometimes people have to drive really early in the morning or late at night. I personally believe these are all excuses for unacceptable behavior, tardiness, and bad grades. Why don't we take some responsibility and realize these things happen because some kids simply don't care? Your plans don't go well with some students to change our start time--some people like getting out of school early. Some people work right after school. Why don't we understand failure is unacceptable and why don't we realize it would only be proper to let our principal try what he can first? Lets give the school a chance to get this straight first--that's my idea.

The prefrontal cortex of the brain is still developing in adolescents. This is the first part of the brain impacted by sleep loss. It is also the part of the brain responsible for executive function and decision-making. The research and what I have heard from teachers in districts that have changed their start times shows improvements in student behavior and fewer discipline problems in the schools -- a generally positive atmosphere. One of the teachers specifically mentioned that students were literally smiling, happier and more likely to participate in class.

Many of the students of Greenfield High School disapprove of these plans--when they know the facts. Going to school until later in the day? Students don't like it. Parents? They think sleep rarely impacts the poor results of this school. They know their own kids. It is the students that chose to do good or bad. Teachers? Probably think it would be a hassle. After-all, some of them commute to work from longer distances and would like to miss traffic during rush hour. I'm sorry--but I'm afraid the majority of us are not behind you. Whether it's students, teachers, or parents, I am sure that the majority of them are not behind you when they know what time we'd be getting out of school. This is ridiculous. We need to let our principal carry out his reforms and see what he can do to turn our school around and help us succeed.

I believe Greenfield High School can reach success without these drastic start time changes that the Start School Later Coalition has been organizing. We need to let our new leadership in the high school make this right. And, for the first year, our principal has brand-new reforms that will help students succeed. Lets give him a chance to turn our school around and not just sit here and change our start time just because some people believe it will help. Some people have things to do after school, so they'd like to get out of school early--not have to stay later into the afternoon. We need to see if our leaders (administrators) can fix it from here--we don't need this drastic start time change.

I truly agree with this parent 100%. I've seen people walk into classes with coffee shop products in their hands when they come in late to class. Hmmmm...maybe they went to pick up some coffee? Maybe that's why they're late! Apparently, this "Start School Later" campaign wants to drown-out citizens voices. This isn't about health--it's about responsibility. I think that the people who are behind this movement should step down, take responsibility, and give up already. This is ridiculous. The Greenfield High School principal put out brand-new reforms this year to help all students succeed. Maybe we should see if his ideas would work first? The 2012-2013 school year is the first year to have such reforms. I think it's concerning that all of these out-of-state people on the organization trying to change our start time are trying to sway Greenfield citizens to believe that an early start time will be beneficial. Now, I understand that Patch is meant to be a "free speech" community and we should respect one another and have the right to post; I just don't feel that this coalition should have any "say so" in what our start time is. It's simply not right. We have older people in our Greenfield community that are paying a little more every year because our high school had a big cost of building it. This isn't right to rack up the bill to pay for new bus schedules. Folks, start time isn't the problem--and changing it isn't the solution. Lets save our time, not radically change!

Robert, all you have to do is observe any high school age students Facebook wall and look at what time posts are made. I start work at 5:00 am ( talk about an early start time right??) and if I look at any teenagersFacebook wall or his friends walls there are posts that were clearly made anywhere from 1 minute ago to 4 hours ago and that's relative to 5:00 am. Teenagers do not have a filter when it comes to social media, you can either directly read what is going on in their households or read between the lines!

I understand what you're saying and there's no disrespect intended. We have repeatedly said your proposal in Greenfield is bad yet for some reason you keep trying to change it. I'm sorry, but you don't have many students behind you in your proposal to change our start time. You don't have many parents as well. And I'm sure teachers don't like it either. I think Greenfield should reform its school the way it's attempting to now--through strong leadership of our principal. Why can't you give him a chance? Greenfield is working to succeed through these new reforms. We don't need a start change to get things done--we're trying to get everyone succeeding right now and we hope it's effective. Why can't you just give our principal a chance to make this right?

I understand your proposal. But, I'm sorry, Greenfield doesn't need it. It's not welcome here. I'm sorry, but I have NEVER seen ANYONE walk into school like a zombie and I've never heard of ANY of our students getting into accidents because they're tired. We're working to succeed--our principal is helping students to succeed. I think this is good enough, Greenfield. We're working hard to get this done successfully. We don't need a start time change. Lets make the old system work--not radically reform it with a start time change. Quite honestly, we're at the point where we, quite frankly, don't really care about all the research behind this--we're doing fine right now. Students need to care. I've heard about upperclassmen mentoring the freshmen. This helps because freshmen will feel more welcome and it will sustain and support the school to becoming more open and it is also showing the community how people in a school can work together. We don't need your proposal to change our start time--I'm sorry, it's not necessary in Greenfield. We like our 'getting out early' time. We need to be able to train students for the workforce--it's not easy if you go to farms across Wisconsin in which people have to get up really early to tend to the duties of the day. We need to realize that not everything will be easy in life. We need to work together to solve this problem instead of trying to change a start time that a lot of people simply don't want.