WPHS Faculty Weighs In On Changing Start and End Times To School Day
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WHEELING - Faculty members at Wheeling Park High School indicate they don't want a change in times to the start or end of the school day, and they sent a representative to tell the Ohio County Board of Education this week.
Teacher Caroline Ihlenfeld-Dillon spoke before the board, explaining why the faculty is opposed to a later start time and end to the school day at WPHS.
She reported the WPHS faculty recently met and discussed the issue of later start times, and those present were surveyed on whether they were in favor or against changing the start and end times for each school day.
A total of 108 members were present and responded to the survey, representing 86% of the school's faculty, according to Ihlenfeld-Dillon.
Of those responding, 91.8% were opposed to changing the start and end times for Ohio County Schools, she said.
She shared concerns voiced by the faculty members.
"Many are wondering why students and community members have not yet been surveyed for their opinion on the newest iteration of the schedule changes," Ihlenfeld-Dillon continued. "Students have expressed to us they are overwhelmingly opposed to the changes. But we also understand only students who are really interested in the topic are expressing their opinion.
"We want to make sure our community stakeholders are given the chance to weigh in."
Many students have work and family obligations outside the school environment, she told board members.
"Often, the students are the caretakers of their younger siblings. If their schedules change, many won't be able to care for those family members," Ihlenfeld-Dillon said. "We are concerned about what the plan is to care for those younger students, as the before-care and after-care programs are already full - or in some cases unavailable - at schools across the county."
Also, many students work after school to help provide necessities for themselves and their families, she added.
"Many students would not be able to hold an afterschool job anymore, or would have to work later hours to work an entire shift," Ihlenfeld-Dillon continued. "And that defeats the purpose of later start times. They will get home later, have to complete homework later and household responsibilities - resulting in a later bedtime."
The faculty also has concerns about the negative impact later start times might have on students participating in extracurricular activities.
"Sports teams, academic teams and social events would all begin later - which means students would get home later and again be faced with homework later at night," she said.
Meanwhile, other schools in the region wouldn't be changing their schedules, and students would need to leave school early in order to compete in athletic events elsewhere, Ihlenfeld-Dillon reported.
"We are worried that the loss of instructional time and the extra stress of catching up on schoolwork would be detrimental to the student athlete," she said. "We want our best and brightest students to take advantage of all that Wheeling Park has to offer."
Some students wouldn't be able to make up what is lost in the classroom, Ihlenfeld-Dillon told board members.
Advanced Placement test days are determined by the College Board, and there is no testing window, she explained.
"Those students missing significant test time would be put at a disadvantage on test day," she continued.
The faculty also is doubtful students would use the extra hour to sleep, Ihlenfeld-Dillon reported.
"No matter the start time or end time of school, they are still going to stay up later than necessary when parents don't step in to set the appropriate boundaries," she said. "There is only so much we as a county can do to prevent a loss of sleep. We have students who will stay up later and still not be able to function while at school - no matter what time is set for start and end time."