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The Executive Summary listed that the Three Toered Bell Schedule would have "No negative impact," and that's ridiculous! Studies show a decline in both attendance and grades for early high school school start times.
Even if you take out the financial & academic impact on parents and students, you're still left with the impact on sports athletes & schedules, dual enrollment program, staff, elementary kids without supervision, etc. Why are we changing the world to fix a bus driver and safety issue??? It makes ZERO sense. The summary also states staff recommends this schedule change. I haven't met or spoken to one person that agrees, and some are leaving the system after only ONE year because the board does not support school admin, prioritize student safety, etc.
I’m all about an adjusted bell schedule that makes sense, but the voted schedule will NOT WORK FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS!
New highschool drivers will be on the road with people driving to Wilmington for work. Unsafe.
Athletes & musicians health, wellness, and academics will suffer. By the time most of them get done with sports, get home, shower, eat dinner, do homework, etc, it’s impossible to get a good nights sleep. The American Association of pediatrics recommends a later time. The AAP urges middle and high schools to aim for start times that allow students to receive 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night. In most cases, this will mean a school start time of 8:30 AM or later, though schools should also consider average commuting times and other local factors.
High school students need the CFCC classes for their college applications. Students have already registered for fall semester classes at cfcc and this will cause the need for the system to be revamped and cause students from getting classes they need
Elementary children can't be home alone... before or after school. Under third grade, a parent or sibling must meet them at the bus stop. Older children helping look out for their younger siblings.
When I asked the people that work in the schools if the teachers and staff think it's better to change to the three tier bell schedule, I was told most think that some of the problem has to do with how the board will not split the IA/bus driver position. A tiered schedule would require full time bus drivers and remove that from the IA duty. But some say the campuses with two schools that are essentially k-8, should be at the same time. The problem with that is the design of the campuses with one way in and out for two schools. It becomes an issue for emergency services, and apparently lot of people don't feel like the board has student safety at the top of their priority list even though admin fights for it.
So, from my perspective, it seems they could target specific problems to make the whole system work better, rather than making a big change that will in turn require a lot of other things to adapt to that change.
Rene supported: Motion to Reconsider Pender County's 3-Tier Bell Schedule DecisionI strongly oppose the proposed 7:10am start time for high school students. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC clearly shows that early start times are harmful to adolescent health, academic performance, and overall well-being. Teenagers have biologically delayed sleep cycles, making it difficult for them to fall asleep early and get the 8–10 hours of rest they need. Forcing students to wake before 6am to make it to school on time leads to chronic sleep deprivation, which is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, car accidents, and lower academic achievement.
We should be making decisions that support the mental and physical health of our students—not policies that compromise it. Please reconsider this proposed schedule and prioritize a healthier, research-backed start time.
Michael supported: Motion to Reconsider Pender County's 3-Tier Bell Schedule DecisionMy daughter is special needs and attends THS. Expecting her to get up at 5ish in the morning for school is a disgrace. We already went through that in elementary and it was a nightmare. Then on top of that, as a single mom who works in Wilmington and my daughter has no one to care for her after school, I’m expected to leave my job everyday to be home to get her off the bus for an early release of 2:05 PM. These changes are unacceptable and should not have been implemented. They do not work for working families and are not inclusive to families who have children, whether they are special needs or not, in the high school, who are unable to care for themselves in the afternoons, because they no longer have anywhere to go after school since they’ve aged out of the programs. The Pender County School of Education needs to do better and I’m willing to speak to whoever, the news, reporters, etc. about my concerns regarding both the board and THS.
Leilani supported: Motion to Reconsider Pender County's 3-Tier Bell Schedule DecisionThe email I sent 30+ members of the city and pender county schools.
Mr. Breedlove and Members of the Pender County School Board, THS Staff & Esteemed Members of our Community
As a concerned parent I am addressing you all regarding the proposed change to our high school's start time from 8:30 a.m. to 7:10 a.m. I strongly urge you to reconsider this change in light of overwhelming research showing how crucial, and truly vital, adequate sleep is for adolescent health, academic success, safety, and their overall quality of life.
Adolescents aged 14 to 18 require 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night in order to optimally function according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. However, and this is something I have recently learned, due to a natural biological shift in their circadian rhythms during puberty, most teens are unable to fall asleep before 11:00 p.m., especially those with ADHD. Moving the school start time to 7:10 a.m. would require many students to wake as early as 5:30 a.m., drastically reducing their ability to achieve sufficient rest.
Numerous peer-reviewed studies have shown that early start times are directly associated with:
Lower academic performance (especially in first-period classes)
Increased rates of depression and anxiety (on top of challenges they face that also increase these rates i.e. social media, information overload, current events, financial changes to the economic climate).
Higher risk of drowsy driving accidents (Hampstead is already known for their disproportionate rate of accidents).
Increased tardiness and absenteeism (which no amount of bribing will fix)
Greater behavioral and attention challenges, particularly for students with ADHD
Students with disabilities, and those requiring more time in the morning for whatever personal reasons, will be disproportionately impacted. Families who rely on morning caregiving routines, or students who work evening jobs, will also face unwarranted strain. This change risks creating an inequitable burden on our most vulnerable students, including those from low-income households, students of color, and youth with neurodivergent needs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has explicitly recommended that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to align with adolescent sleep needs. Several districts that have made this shift have reported improved GPAs, reduced disciplinary actions, and increased graduation rates. Topsail High School has been running at an 8:30am optimal start time. I could only deduce from the research that GPA's and graduation rates will decrease while disciplinary actions increase.
The proposed change is not in alignment for youth development, health, or learning. I respectfully, and patiently, ask the board and superintendent to prioritize student wellness and academic performance over logistical convenience.
Consider keeping the current start time at 8:30 a.m. and investing in solutions that support, not hinder, the health and future of these students.
I would like to also point out that there was not an email sent to the parents about this proposed change and meeting times. I did receive end of year emails, computer reminders, yet nothing on the proposed time changes and meetings that were taking place. A stronger communication strategy would benefit future decision making, should you be including parents input.
Ruhi Drysdale
Parent/Community Member of Pender County
907.978.8542
Please Find Cited Resources Below:
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Ruhi supported: Motion to Reconsider Pender County's 3-Tier Bell Schedule DecisionI shared published peer-reviewed journal articles with the school board last year when they were first considering tiered start times, and I’m disappointed that they are going against evidence-based research supporting later start times for high schoolers. What would we think if our healthcare providers did the same thing? This is blatant malpractice!
Dan supported: Motion to Reconsider Pender County's 3-Tier Bell Schedule DecisionYou’re not alone — a community of supporters is ready to back you.
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