Schools
Greenfield School Board Discusses Later Start Time For High School
Also at Monday's meeting, two new administrators join school district.
Half an hour might not seem like a lot of time, but according to the Greenfield Ad Hoc School Start Time Committee it is causing detrimental effects on the district’s high school students.
A handful of people were in attendance Monday night at a Greenfield School Board meeting to discuss a variety of topics, the most prominent being school starting times.
Stemming from a vote last month, the Greenfield school board continued discussions about moving the current start time of 7:10 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. based on the committee’s report.
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According to Dolores Skowronek, the committee’s representative, Greenfield High School has the earliest start time in the state, and it has an adverse effect on teenagers’ learning ability.
“At our December Ad Hoc meeting we had two guest speakers from the Medical College of Wisconsin,” Skowronek said. “The two doctors focused on two things. First, they talked about the many pressures we pile on to our children.
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“Second, they talked about the fact that early start times cause lack of sleep in teens. They also talked about how this impacts their health and gave examples of research studies that link sleep loss in teens to academic problems, obesity, increased diabetes risks, unintentional injuries, emotional problems, and behavioral problems."
Despite the discussion, no decision was made about future start times.
Also at the meeting, the board discussed the possibility of placing sidewalks around Greenfield Middle School to allow a safer way for students to get to and from school.
Board President Bruce Bailey said that the issue is really more of a city matter and because the cost would be roughly $180,000, there would likely need to be grants involved to have the matter approved.
Among other business, Michelle Weisrock and Rebecca Toetz were both welcomed as Greenfield administrators, filling the places of two recent retirees.
Superintendent Conrad Farner also addressed the ongoing budget debate in Madison and how it might potentially effect Greenfield school administrators. Farner said the district is planning for a variety of possible outcomes.
The board also approved the retirements of seven teachers and approved a lease with Greenfield Little League.
