Anchorage families prepare for new school start times
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Several kids were enjoying the final weeks of summer vacation on a recent weekday at Jewel Lake Park in Anchorage.
During a break in the fun, 8-year-old Atlas Dahl said he is looking forward to returning to Turnagain Elementary for the third grade.
“I like the teachers,” Dahl said. “They’re really nice to me and I just love that school all entirely.”
As the new school year approaches, so too do several schedule changes. Citing studies that show extra sleep can improve focus, boost mood and enhance overall academic performance, ASD officials approved new school start times for 2024-2025.
“We anticipate there will be opportunities for everyone to adjust to that,” said Erik Viste, the senior director of elementary education for ASD. “We are doing some staggered starts with different levels and grades in anticipation of some of those changes and working with our school communities and helping our school communities work with our families to be able to adapt to that.”
| Monday | ||
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school | 9 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
| Middle school | 10:30 a.m. | 4 p.m. |
| High school | 9:45 a.m. | 3:15 p.m. |
| Tuesday-Friday | ||
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school | 8 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
| Middle school | 9:30 a.m. | 4 p.m. |
| High school | 8:45 a.m. | 3:15 p.m. |
However, not everyone is on board with the new start times. Many parents expressed concerns about the new schedule.
“I think about evening activities and how that’s going to affect our evening activities and wanting to get our kids to bed early — especially our littles — to get to school early,” Marissa Stamberg said. “It’s going to affect what we do in the evenings. We’re going to have to have a much stricter bedtime.”
“Wrapping my brain around the fact that it’s not what it has been for the past 30 years is definitely going to be challenging,” Rebecca Rice added. “I’m sure my kid will be late to school on more than one occasion because I forgot what the start time is.”
ASD Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt said he understands the parents’ concerns.
“While there are definitely two sides to every issue — there are quite a few that preferred the old schedule — I will say I was really taken aback by the number of families that really want to provide more supports for their high school-age students,” he said.
On the other hand, kids like incoming eighth grader Isabella Donohue don’t seem to mind the new changes.
“I think sleeping in is going to help me be more energized for school and it’s also harder to wake up since it’s still really dark in the morning,” she said. “So, I think that’ll help a lot.”
School officials said it’s important to remember the why behind the new change.
Only time will tell how the new start times will impact the community, but for now, students, staff and families will have to take it one day at a time.
“This is for students and student well-being,” said Eric Backman, Senior Director of High School Education for ASD. “I think we need to remind ourselves of that throughout the change process, to be patient with one another.”
Click here to learn more about the new school start times for the Anchorage School District.
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