After months of discussions and consideration, Noblesville Schools Supt. Dr. Beth Niedermeyer recommended that the district should not change school start times from its current schedule at the Dec. 16 board meeting.
“I know there has been a lot of anticipation regarding my decision on our school start times,” Niedermeyer said. “After reading through the survey data and careful consideration of all stakeholders involved, I have decided there will be no change in times for the upcoming school year. Since this is an issue the community feels passionately about, I know many will be disappointed, and even upset, about my decision. I certainly understand these frustrations.”
The proposed change had start of school for high and the middle schools students scheduled to be 8:45 a.m. from the current time of 7:35 a.m., and elementary schools scheduled to start at 8 a.m. as opposed to 8:40 a.m.
The start time initiative began under former superintendent Dr. Libbie Conner, who said the district had been extensively studying the issue for approximately two years. Officials said the change was being implemented to address the energy level and alertness of many students during their morning classes. Conner previously announced that start times would change in the 2015-2016 school year and that final, confirmed times would be communicated in early 2015.
Earlier this year, the district garnered public input through a forum on May 5, social media commentary and an online survey that Conner said had approximately 2,500 respondents. At the May school board meeting, Conner said the survey indicated that the majority of respondents were not opposed to a change in start times, with 70 percent stating they see no negative impact from the proposed change for their high school/middle school student(s) and 56 percent of respondents seeing no negative impact from the proposed change for their elementary student(s).
Niedermeyer commissioned an independent third-party survey on the subject when she started earlier this school year with the goal of getting comprehensive data on what parents and staff thought about the change. The survey asked respondents to consider two different options, each started the high and middle schools later than the current schedule.
“Two themes that I’ve heard over and over again have really resonated with me,” said Niedermeyer, “Many are concerned that Noblesville Schools has experienced too much change, too quickly. And more importantly, that we have not been listening to what the community wants. My vision for Noblesville Schools is to be innovators who implement successful change with the support of our constituents.”
Niedermeyer said survey data showed many of those respondents didn’t want to change times at all.
“Clearly this is a major issue and the community has given us a great deal of input and direction that you’ve worked through and come up with a conclusion that I think is appropriate,” School Board President Pat Berghoff told Niedermeyer. “I know as time goes on we’ll continue to look at this issue and keep track of the research and if it directs us in a different direction in the future that may be, but for now the appropriate decision has been made. I appreciate your strength in recognizing that now is not the time.”
The board previously backed the decision to change start times and while they went with Niedermeyer’s recommendation some expressed that they had a different preference.
“The research is pretty clear with the older students,” school board member Jane Barr said. “We’ve got to get it to work with the younger ones too and not be hampered by bus schedules or whatever. To do what’s best for the whole school system is what’s needed.”
Fellow school board member Julia Kozicki simply said, “I appreciate your time and effort and look forward to our continued conversations (on the matter).”
One in favor of ending the discussions was school board member Gary Duvall. He said in talking with people that he felt nine out of 10 parents at the elementary level did not favor a change while the high school was more 60-40 to change it.
“You never can give everybody exactly what you want,” he said.
Just finishing her first 100 days on the job, the decision was the biggest Niedermeyer has made to shape the district under her leadership.
“The decision is done. There is no need to reopen it in the foreseeable future,” she said. “There are lots of things we have to work on now that we have a decision. We get to move on to other exciting things.”
