On March 26, the School Start Times Advisory Committee recommended to the Franklin School Committee that school start times be changed. The Franklin School Committee developed the School Start Times Advisory Committee to look at whether the Franklin school start times should be pushed back so high school students can get more sleep. There are multiple factors that the committee considered, such as how it will affect after school activities, childcare, jobs, traffic and transportation. The committee considered survey feedback from parents/guardians and faculty/staff.

The School Committee currently plans to vote on the matter at their April 23 meeting. As we wait for the vote, here are some highlights of the recommendation:

1. High school start time could be adjusted from its current time of 7:35 a.m.-2:05 p.m. to 8:45 a.m.-3:15 pm. or to 8:25 a.m.-2:55 pm.
2. Any change to the start time in high school would also change start times for the elementary and middle schools.
3. Because school would get out later, student athletes may need to get dismissed from their last period classes to make their games, especially if the sports competitions are away games.
4. If there is a change in school start times, it would not be until the 2020-2021 school year.