As the Fayetteville-Manlius School District continues to discuss school start times at all F-M schools, the district is seeking feedback from students, staff, parents and community members.
In 2019, the district partnered with Dr. Daniel Lewin, of the National Children’s Medical Center to evaluate challenges, opportunities and benefits of changing school start times. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need about 8-10 hours of sleep each night to function their best. The foundation also reports that biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence, meaning it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11 p.m.
The American Medical Association issued a policy statement that middle and high school start times begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also weighed in on the topic, stating, “Not getting enough sleep is common among high school students and is associated with several health risks including being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and using drugs, as well as poor academic performance.”
At the time of the district’s school start time study, alternate school start time scenarios were explored. The most favorable scenarios, based on stakeholder input, included:
- The slide: all school buildings start later (example: elementary would start at 9:15 a.m., middle at 8:30 a.m., high at 8:15 a.m.)
- The slide and flip: all school buildings start later and flip elementary and high school (example: high school would start at 9:15 a.m., middle at 8:30 a.m., elementary at 8:15 a.m.)
F-M’s initiative to explore school start time changes was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the majority of the construction at F-M High School expected to be completed by fall 2026, the district has decided to reexamine school start times across all of its schools. No decision on school start times has been made at this time and stakeholder input will be integral for the district as it considers a shift in K-12 start times.
F-M students, parents, staff and community members are invited to complete the F-M Schools Start Time Survey online to submit feedback. The feedback from this survey will be used in conjunction with the feedback shared by community stakeholders in 2019 and the feedback received this spring in the parent/guardian survey issued by Research & Marketing Strategies.
The district’s School Start Time Committee, comprised of district administrators, faculty and staff, anticipates resuming their meetings in September to continue their discussions. As the committee continues its work, the district is seeking students and parents/guardians who are interested in serving on the committee. Meetings will be held monthly in the late afternoon, and will be held throughout the fall months. Students and parents/guardians who are interested in participating should contact the District Clerk, Sarah Gridley, at sgridley@fmschools.org no later than August 25.
If there is a recommendation to change school start times, it would be communicated during late fall 2025 and implemented in September 2026, allowing ample time for students, parents, and staff to familiarize themselves with the changes and make any necessary child care arrangements and/or other adjustments to their daily routines.