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SALT LAKE CITY — In 2021, high schools in Salt Lake City may start at 8:45 a.m., an hour later than most schools currently begin their days.
The Salt Lake City Board of Education voted Tuesday evening to create a task force that will study the possibility of moving the start time for the 2021-2022 school year, according to a news release from the school district.
The district has considered moving the school day start time for at least the last five years but last night’s action was an important step, the release states.
East, West and Highland high schools all start their days at 7:45 a.m., according to Salt Lake City School District spokeswoman Yándary Chatwin. Some of the alternative high schools in the district have slightly different start times, but all schools begin the day around that time.
The task force also will consider if the 8:45 a.m. start time would be possible for the district’s middle schools. District superintendent Lexi Cunningham will be leading the group.
It will also include school administrators, district employees, teachers, parents, three network directors that oversee feeder systems for the three high schools, and representatives from the School Community Council and Salt Lake Education Foundation, according to Chatwin.
The group's meetings will be open to the public and media members. The first meeting takes place Wednesday at 4 p.m. in room 116 at the district office, 440 E. 100 South.
“I’m excited to see our community come together on something so pivotal that we know will benefit our students,” school board president Melissa Ford said in the release. “I’ve appreciated the opportunities we’ve had thus far to hear from stakeholders, both those who support, and those who have concerns about, late start. Our Board is mindful of the many ways this change will impact families across the Salt Lake City School District, and we look forward to continuing our work with community members and stakeholders on this very important issue.”
School board member Katherine Kennedy, who made the motion to create the task force, lauded former board member Heather Bennett in the release. Kennedy said Bennett put lots of effort into considering a start time change and was dedicated to the idea that students need more sleep.
“Her efforts made a difference,” Kennedy said.
In a Jan. 31 letter addressed to school district families and community members, school board members acknowledged that most people in the district were supportive of a later start time.
But, they wrote in the letter, starting the school day later would not be without some difficulties for students and parents.
“We understand that most of our community members are generally supportive of later start times for our high schools,” the letter reads. “But we also understand the difficulties this change would create for many of our working families, the concerns for scheduling across all our schools, the need to look out for our students with disabilities and other impacted groups, and the delicate balance between student well-being, family logistics, and staff needs.”
The board will continue discussing the issue and will review recommendations from the task force at future meetings, the release states.
Students, parents and community members are encouraged to contact school board members if they have thoughts about the potential start time change. For more information, visit slcschools.org.
