Garnet Valley to begin classes before Labor Day

CONCORD >> The Garnet Valley School District will break with decades of tradition after the board approved the calendars for both the 2020/2021 and

2021/2022 school years. The instructional year for all students will begin before Labor Day.

Assistant Superintendent Leslie Hutchinson spearheaded discussions involving teachers and administrators on the subject. Hutchinson described them as “very spirited conversations.”

The question of a start date was raised again in preparation for the next school year because 2020 Labor Day occurs on Sept.

7, the latest possible date.

Even the loss of four days at the start of the school year could have repercussions at the end, especially if closure was necessary due to weather or other unavoidable conditions.

“We were about evenly split on the change, but the move to before Labor Day won out in the end,” said Hutchinson.

In addition to district personnel considering the concept and impact, Superintendent Marc Bertrando queried parents via the district’s communication system.

“We did not receive a great deal of feedback from parents. The few emails I did receive supported starting before Labor Day,” said Bertrando. “A few years ago we sent out a survey and our parents were split 5050 regarding starting prior to the holiday. I think that the fact that it is so late next year, made the change seem logical.”

While school calendars are routinely approved sometime in the prior year, the board got out about 11 months in advance. Director Greg Chestnut said the action was intended to give families ample time to plan vacations or other scheduling considerations.

The district has posted a comprehensive article about the calendar and decisions on its website www. garnetvalleyschools.com. The complete calendar and dates are expected to be added to that posting with board approval completed.

Both Bertrando and board President Rosemary Fiumara were excused from the Oct. 22 meeting due to an important program held by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. The topic was school start times as they relate to optimal performance of students.

Bertrando provided a summary the following day.

“We attended a simulcast at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit hosted by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit which focused on the Joint State Government Commission on SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN ADOLESCENTS: THE CASE FOR DELAYING SECONDARY SCHOOL START TIMES REPORT. The document was released this month,” said Bertrando. [It can be accessed by searching the Pennsylvania commission entitled above and clicking on the tab for ongoing projects.]

“The administration and board have been discussing delayed start times for secondary students for over two years and were eagerly anticipating the report in the event it would lead to mandates and/or funding for making the change. Although it does not recommend legislative change, the report does advise that each district study the issue with its community to see if it meets their unique needs and interests. Currently, 25 of the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania have delayed their start times. Based on the findings in the document, 8:30 a.m. or later is designated as the ideal start time for secondary students in conjunction with parents taking a more assertive role in making sure that their children have better sleep habits.”

Parent Brian Adams addressed the board during its public comment period, and asked for an update on the subject. Tracy Karwoski, sitting in for Fiumara, noted the meeting being attended and said the district is continuing to collect information to determine “the best pathway.”

Adams said one of his children — a fifth-grader — is on the same bus as high school student, and the banter of the older students is not acceptable for his child.

Karwoski Adams that agreed busing with is a

major concern both financially and strategically, especially considering the district also has responsibility to bus private school students. “The state has not implemented any additional

funding for buses, making the financing very difficult,” Karwoski said.

Chestnut summed up matters that can be expected to take considerable study before districts alter

what have been long-standing schedules for K through 12 students. “There are,” Chestnut said, “wide implications.”

In mid-October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom

signed what some may see as a groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind law. It mandates that school days will begin no earlier than 8 a.m. at public middle schools and 8:30 a.m. at high schools, excluding some rural schools and a “zero period” offered before the start of the regular school day. The law is set to go into effect July 1, 2022.