- Fox Chapel Area School District
- School Start Times
Background
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During the 2016-2017 school year, a group of parents approached the Fox Chapel Area School District administration to examine the potential adjustment of student start times across the district.
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Timeline
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2016-2017
- Group of parents approaches Fox Chapel Area School District administrators to examine potential adjustments of student start times across the district
August 2017
- Fox Chapel Area School District begins examination of district start times
November 2017
- District site-based meeting held to explore possible school start time changes and discuss site-based survey results
April 2018
- FCASD utilizes Transfinder to complete bell time study
- District Forum panel discussion
September 2018
- FCASD provides additional information to community and initiates districtwide survey
- Early findings and other information presented during School Board committee of the whole meeting
February 2019
- School start time site-based team holds first meeting on positive implications and potential challenges of altering school start times
April 2019
- School start time site-based team reconvenes and hears from health officials who support later start times
- Feedback from committee indicates that participants need more concrete examples of potential modifications for all involved; Transfinder to conduct independent review
August 2019
- Transfinder begins independent review
October 2019
- Independent review from Transfinder expected
- Third meeting of school start time site-based team planned
January 2020
- School start time site-based team holds third meeting and the topic is positive implications and potential challenges a school start time change would have on transportation
Additional Information
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Background Documents
- Busing Analysis
- Transfinder Bell Study
- Presentation to Fox Chapel Area School Board (9/10/18)
- Site-Based Team Meeting Notes (2/6/19)
- Site-Based Team Meeting Notes (4/23/19)
- Site-Based Team Meeting Notes (1/29/20)
- Presentation to Site-Based Team on Transportation Logistics (1/29/20)
- Answers to Site-Based Team Questions (1/29/20)
- Transfinder Project Summary (2/6/20)
- Site-Based Team Meeting Notes (2/27/20)
- Presentation to Site-Based Team on Transportation Costs (2/27/20)
- Presentation to Site-Based Team on High School Impact (2/27/20)
Links
- Fox Chapel Area School District State of the Schools, 2017-2018
- Joint State Government Commission, "Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times"
- National Sleep Foundation
- "Adolescent Changes in the Homeostatic and Circadian Regulation of Sleep" - National Center for Biotechnology Information
- "Why Are Teenagers So Sleep-Deprived?" - Child Mind Institute
- "School Start Time Change: An In-Depth Examination of School Districts in the United States" - Start School Later
- "Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study" - University of Minnesota
- "Later School Start Times a Dream for Teens, But a Logistical Nightmare for Districts" - Philly Voice
- "North Allegheny Won't Change Start Times, Cites Significant Costs" - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- "California Dreamin': The state becomes the first in the nation to mandate later start times for middle and high schools. Here’s why." - The Washington Post
- "'Why Are You Doing This to Me?' Outraged Kids Start School Early While Teens Sleep" - The Wall Street Journal
- Busing Analysis
Site-Based Team
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Community Members
Mary Davitt
Libby Ernharth
Dave Fortun
Ron Frank
Sallie Kaan
Tim Lang
Donna Olbrich
Elizabeth Rambeau
Cory Siri
Beth SnitzParents
Kim Bartolacci (FV)
Jill Chiu (FV)
Kelly DiNatale (FV)
Dawn DiPasquale (OH)
Stacie Dojonovic (HS)
Stacy Graham (KR)
Jen Klein (HS)
Renee Liberto (DMS)
Rachael Link (OH)
Warner Macklin (HW)
Carrie Monteverde (HW)
Windy Neff (KR)
Beth Ruff (DMS)
Shannon Smith (DMS)
Rob Wilson (KR)
Teachers/Support StaffKyle Adams
Jasmine Amato
Brianna Amoscato
Linda Angelo
Heath Asbury
Connie Banachoski
Kelly Barone
Nicole Bender
Kim Brose
Christine Buffone
Lisa Collins
Andrea Deasy
Bryan Elder
Sarah Everest
Lisa Gibson
Carli Hackett
Corey Hess
Susan Kreit
Stephanie Kurlej
Paul Lyons
Rich Mathieu
John McKechnie
Julie Micelli
Kristen Moller
Shelley Novick
Jessica Painter
Stacey Reese
Diana Sayre
Barbara Scully
Melissa Spirnock
Sandy Stewart
Jerry Susi
Shelley Zottola
AdministrationKristy Batis
Stephen Edwards
Rachel Fischbaugh
Mike Hower
Dan Lentz
John McGee
Laura Miller
Jon Nauhaus
Paul Noro
Students3 FCAHS students
*The school start times site-based team comprises the members of each school building's site team, as well as a number of community members.