Thank you to all the families, staff, and community members who attended the August 15, 2024, Listening Session. Below is a summary of the key points discussed regarding the Student Start/End Times, and important next steps.

We value your continued engagement and invite you to join us for the next Student Start/End Time Listening Session II, which will be held on:

Date: October 24, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Harmon Middle School, 12410 Harmon Road, 43147

Click the link below to register for the second Listening Session:  
https://forms.gle/PYAyYthXrVPWkzLKA

Update & Summary from August 15, 2024 
Student Start/End Times Listening Session 

Watch the full session here: https://youtu.be/huIRstx3xSQ?si=tLXrxtCbFzJatzDP

The Pickerington Schools Listening Session focused on potential changes to school start and end times. The session covered concerns such as the effects on extracurricular activities, student focus, transportation, and childcare. National trends on later start times improving academic performance were discussed, particularly for adolescents. The forum was designed to gather input from the community before making any decisions about changes, with feedback welcomed throughout the process.

The discussion began with two scenarios posed “What if your child were to start school 10-45 mins earlier or later?”. The open mic forum began with participants sharing their thoughts on how these changes could affect their daily routines and overall schedules. Participants raised concerns about the impact on families, particularly regarding transportation, extracurricular activities, and student well-being. Concerns about safety, such as children standing at bus stops in the dark, were also highlighted. Parents and teachers offered feedback on the current schedule and provided suggestions for optimal start times based on various levels (elementary, middle, and high school). Several participants emphasized that adjusting times could negatively affect extracurricular activities and childcare logistics. The conversation also touched on how shifting start times would influence family routines and the importance of gathering data to understand the broader impact on the community.

Participants expressed concerns about how transportation issues, such as bus delays, have impacted the effectiveness of school schedules. The conversation explored whether the district could potentially shorten the school day without compromising educational outcomes. Additionally, discussions covered the balance between school schedules and family time, particularly in light of Pickerington's longer school day. Suggestions were made to gather comprehensive data on the impact of current transportation systems and how other districts have managed similar changes. The conversation closed with a focus on the need for careful planning and research before implementing any changes.

Here is a summary of the main concerns raised during the discussion about changing school start times in Pickerington, along with the number of times each issue was raised during the discussion:

Audience Questions:

1. If we move start times for the earlier grades, would younger kids be standing at the bus stop in the dark?
2. What’s a common age for people to have their children babysitting?
3. When does the OCC require that our teams are available for scheduling?
4. What would later start times mean for infrastructure (e.g., public transportation, traffic)?
5. Should we shorten the school day instead of shifting start times?
6. What do our parents’ work schedules look like? Do they work at 7 a.m., 9 a.m.?
7. Are we including all extracurriculars, like youth groups, church, band, etc., not just sports?
8. What did the data show when we made this kind of schedule change 17 years ago?
9. How many minutes are our kids spending on the bus?
10. Does reducing staggered times impact services like music, the arts, and gifted services?