WAYLAND - Officials are hitting the pause button on changing school start times to further study the topic.
Superintendent Arthur Unobskey had recommended making a change for next school year as he sought to help adolescents get more sleep.
He had recommended delaying the start of the school day by 20 minutes at the high school and middle school and 15 minutes at the elementary schools for the 2018-2019 school year. Beginning at the start of the 2019-2020 school year, high school and middle school start times would have been delayed an additional 10 minutes. Corresponding changes would have been made to the end of the school day.
"It is clear that a large segment of the community is concerned about the impact of delayed arrival and dismissal times on our elementary students and on families," Unobskey wrote in a message last month. "At the same time, it is clear that a large number of people have an appetite to explore a more significant change to start times for middle school and high school students because they have been inspired by the data that says that such a change will make our children healthier."
Officials plan to review bus routes, after-school activities and other factors that influence when school is held. Officials hope to explore starting classes for elementary school students to an earlier time, but not so early that it disrupts those students' sleep, he said in an interview.
Residents' views are important because this decision affects daycare, commuting and other aspects of people's lives, Unobskey said.
"It really affects people's lives in ways that are outside the school."
The School Committee wants to find a solution that will facilitate changing start times, he said.
Officials plan to present their work to the public and School Committee later in 2018. Any change in start times would not take place until fall 2019.
Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.