Finals Schedule: 7:35-8:25 8:30-10:30 10:30-12:25 12:30-2:30
Monday
Tutor Time 2 Lunch 7
Tuesday
Tutor Time 1 Lunch 8
Wednesday
Tutor Time 4 Lunch 5
Thursday
Tutor Time 3 Lunch 6
Graduation Issue
The Royal Banner
Fairview High School
Vol. 51 No.10
Friday, May 20, 2011
1515 Greenbriar Blvd. Boulder, CO 80305
Fairview declares late start for next year By JENELLE WINTER
Decision highlights differing interests of education and extracurriculars
After two years of research and surveys, The traditional Break down of the survey the administrations of Boulder and Fair- practice times for view High Schools have decided to grant sports teams and the their students a later start of 8:15 begin- marching band presning with next year’s 2011-2012 school year. ent a clear conflict Parents initially brought with late start. Lee forth the issue of a later expressed strong start earlier this year, opinions on how this and a decision was finally change was going to reached with the help of affect his teams. “I a committee of students don’t see an advanand parents, as well as tage for athletics at some strong opinions of all,” says Lee. Graphs courtesy of www.fhslatestart.org teachers. Band director TraPrincipal Stensrud (TOP) and AthOriginally, the BVSD vis Keller shares a similar opinion. “It’s going to be really challenging logistiletic Director Frank proposed for there to be cally between sports teams practices and the band department. I’m not a fan Lee (RIGHT) repreonly one late start day a of it,” he said during a break from conducting, “It makes doing what we do way sent opposing sides week in order to allow more challenging. Our staff has had a schedule that they’ve been relying on for of the late start isfaculty more time to col- years.” sue (BOONIN-VAIL). laborate. This proved Even those in support of late start non-beneficial, as the recognize the issue. “I’m all for [late teachers would actually lose important instructional time. The next proposal start] if it will support healthy sleep was that every school make individual decisions, a decision which Boulder and patterns for our students,” said counFairview have now reached. selor Paula Lee, “but I have concerns A survey done with over 2,000 students and parents at Fairview showed that over the chaos it’s going to create roughly 78 percent supported late start 12 percent were against, and 10 percent with student athletes. It’s just going did not have an opinion. The staff at Fairview High polled a similar support to push everything back,” she admitfor the movement of about 65 percent. “As a ted. parent, I think it’s great,” said counseling ofAn additional “It’s overall good for the kids, fice worker Sara Goldberg, “It makes a lot of problem confrontsense” ing late start is the It was the right thing to do.” “It’s a change,” said Principal Donald Stenissue of bus transit. -Principal Stensrud srud, who has been highly supportive of the Since the total nummovement. ber of kids transIn a study directed by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon at Brown University, examin- ported by bus only hovers around ers observed 25 students as they adjusted to the new sleep pattern. The results 80 students, the BVSD initially prowere obvious, students reported being less stressed, more alert, and more able posed do late start without changing to complete school work. In addition, observers noted an improvement in test the bus schedule. Supporters of late scores and attendance records. This study, along with many others, greatly in- start pointed out that middle school fluenced the movement for a late start. and high school bus routes could “There’s been numerous studies over the last 15 to 20 years, and that’s been combine. This is currently the bus highly influential,” said Stensrud, “I think the data’s incredibly conclusive that schedule policy planned to be initilate start is good for kids.” ated next year. However, other members of the school’s faculty, particularly those involved With the implementation of late in extracurriculars, start now imminent for Fairview, Survey results from Fairview students and parents: are less convinced Principal Stensrud now sees the polWould you support piloting an 8:20 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. of the late start icy as a non-issue. “It’s overall good schedule in 2011-12? policy’s benefits. for the kids,” he said. “It was the right “I know there are thing to do.” Others, like Frank Lee studies that show and Keller, may disagree with this anything you’d want sentiment, but will still be subjected it to show,” said ath- to the policy next year. “If it’s really letic director Frank what’s best for education,” said Lee Lee. “then I suppose it’s worth a try.”