---------- Forwarded message ----------
Sent-From: ccrlt at wgbh.org
Date: Monday, October 17, 2016
Subject: BCC Transcript 161017
Sent-To: michelle.wu at boston.gov

Michelle Wu, Boston City Councilor At-Large
One City Hall Square 5th Floor
Boston Massachusetts 02201

Office tel 617-635-3115
fax 617-635-4205
email
michelle.wu at boston.gov

BCC161017_noTC.txt
111KB

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>> FOR THE RECORD I'M THE
DISTRICT 7 BOSTON CITY
COUNCILOR.
CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.

I'M JOINED BY THE SPONSORED AND
GOOD FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES CITY
COUNCILOR GEORGE AND O'MALLEY.

I WANT TO REMAINED YOU THIS IS A
PUBLIC HEARING BEING RECORDD AND
BROADCAST ON COMCAST CHANNEL 8
AND RCM CHANNEL 82.

PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELLPHONES
AND OTHER DEVICES.

WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
AND APPRECIATE YOU SIGNING IN,
IN THE BACK AND CHECK OFF THE
BOX IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY, IF THOSE THE CASE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO A FEW
MINUTES SO ALL CAN BE HEARD.
TODAY'S HEARING -- I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T SEE MY GOOD COLLEAGUE
TO MY LEFT WAS BLOCKED.
WE ALSO HAVE CITY COUNCILOR
MARTINA AND McCARTHY WHO ARE
IN THE CHAMBER.

TODAY'S HEARING IS ON 0745.
ORDER FOR HEARING REGARDING
LATER HIGH SCHOOL START TIMES IN
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY A
BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR GEORGE AND
O'MALLEY AND REFERRED TO THE IS
COMMITTEE ON MAY 18th, 2016.
WE WERE WILL HAVE A PAIGION.

I WILL GIVE THE SPONSORS A
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OPENING
STATEMENTS THEN WE WILL GET TO
THE PANEL.

COUNCILLOR GEORGE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY FOR JOINING ME IN THE
EFFORT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
PANELISTS WITH US TODAY.

OUR SPECIALISTS, OUR BPS AD MY
STATION AND STUDENTS JOINING US.
MY HEARING GOALS FOR TODAY ARE
TWO-FOLD.

ONE IS TO HAVE A SPECIAL AND
SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF THE
NEEDS OF OUR TEENAGERS
ESPECIALLY THEIR SLEEP NEEDS AND
HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR LEARNING.

I WANT TO HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTAND OF THE SHIFT OF HIGH
SCHOOL START TIMES.

WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO SCHOOL
OPERATIONS AND OUR ABILITY TO
GET KIDS TOO AND FROM SCHOOL.
TOO AND FROM ACTIVITIES WHETHER
IT'S SPORTS, CLUB OR WORK.

I WANT TO PAY PARTICULAR
ATTENTION TO THOSE SCHOOLS
STARTING BEFORE 7:30 A.M.
WE HAVE MORE THAN HALF OF OUR
SCHOOLS STARTING AT 7:30.
OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE
STUDENTS AND WHAT AN ADDITIONAL
20, 30, 40 MINUTES WOULD DO FOR
THEIR DAY.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW I WAS A HIGH
SCHOOL TEACHER PRIOR TO BEING
ELECTED TO THE BOSTON CITY
COUNCIL.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPACT FULL
THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE
STUDENTS I TAUGHT WAS A GOOD
NIGHT'S REST AND HOW IT
INFLUENCES THEIR EDUCATION AND
BEING PREPARED, AWAKE AND READY
TO LEARN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO, TODAY'S
HEARING.

THE INFORMATION SHARED,
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A
SOON AND QUICK WORKING SESSION
THAT WE CAN TAKE WHAT WE LEARN
TODAY AND APPLY IT IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY AS WHAT WE DO AS
A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CITY.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
EVERYONE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR GEORGE.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I'M DELIGHTED TO PARTNER WITH MY
DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE
COUNCILLOR GEORGE.
IT'S A IMPORTANT MEASURE LOOKING
TO MOVE LATER START TIMES FOR
HIGH SCHOOLS.
MANY BOSTON HIGH SCHOOLS BEGIN
BETWEEN 7 TO AND 9:30 HALF START
BEFORE 7:30.
MANY START BEFORE 8:30 A.M.
NOW OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE CITY
WIDE.
THIS MEANS THE STUDENTS CAN GO
TO A SCHOOL NEAR HOME OR ACROSS
THE CITY.
B PS 1-12 RELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO SCHOOL.
COULD YOU HAVE A STUDENT IN
COUNCILLOR LAMATTINA'S DISTRICT
EAST WORST ON AND HAVE TO TRAVEL
A VERY LONG DISTANCE TO THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY.
EVEN CLOSER TO HOME IT CAN BE A
ISSUE.
MY NEPHEW BEGAN SEVENTH GRADE AT
OWE BRYANT SCHOOL IN ROXBURY.
TWO NEIGHBORHOODS OVER YET HE
HAS TO LEAVE HIS HOME BY
6:00 A.M.
THERE IS NO DIRECT ROUTE THERE.
HE HAS TO TAKE A BUS AND ORANGE
LINE OR COMMUTER RAIL AND WALK.
FOR MANY STUDENTS INCLUDING MY
NEPHEW AND MANY OTHERS THIS
MEANS WAKING UP WELL BEFORE DAWN
AND TRAVELING BY MTBA BUS AND
TRAIN, SOMETIMES IN THE DARK TO,
GET TO CRASS BY THE FIRST WELL.
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS RECOMMEND A STUDENT
RECEIVE 9 HOURS OF SLEEP AT
NIGHT.
THIS MEANS A STUDENT MUST GO TO
BED AT 8:30 CAN YOU THINK OF A
TEENAGER ABLE OR WILLING TO GO
TO BED AT 8:30 P.M.
WE WILL HEAR FROM EXPERTS TODAY.
THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THE
UNWILLINGNESS FOR A TEEN TO CALL
IT A DAY EARLY MAYBE PART OF
THEIR BIOLOGY OVER TEMPERAMENT.
LACK OF SLEEP CAN CAUSE LOW
GRADES, ANXIETY, OBESITY AND
OTHER SEVERE HEALTH ISSUES.
WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT TO
CONSIDER.
TRANSPORTATION, AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.
I THINK IT'S A IMPORTANT FIRST
STEP.
I ECHO THE CALLS OF COUNCILLOR
GEORGE TO EXPEDITE A WORKING
SESSION AFTER THIS AND WE SHOULD
EXPLORE THIS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL
YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE BRIEF OPENING STATEMENT,
MR. CHAIR.
LOOKING FORWARD TO A WORTHWHILE
HEARING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY.
COUNCILLOR LAMATTINA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
I WILL BE BRIEF AND TO THE
POINT.
THANK THE COUNCILLORS FOR
BRINGING UP THIS ISSUE.
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY SAID IT
EARLIER WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT TO
BOSTON LANG.
WE HAD TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS AT
MAVERICK STATION AT 6:00 A.M. TO
GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME.
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD IT.
WHY HIGH SCHOOL STARTED SO
EARLY.
SHE WAS UP LATE DOING HOMEWORK.
I'M JUST HERE TO LISTEN.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS ON THE IMPACT
OF SPORTS AND CLUBS AFTER
SCHOOL.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, AND I
JUST HOPE WE CAN DO THIS SOON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH,
COUNCILLOR LA MA TINA.
COUNCILLOR McCARTHY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU TO THE PAPBLSZ.
I HAVE TWO TEENAGE BOYS MYSELF.
ONE IN COLLEGE, ONE A JUNIOR IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
GOING TO BED WAS ALWAYS A BATTLE
AND GETTING UP IS A BATTLE.
THAT'S JUST ME.
THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.
YOU KNOW HEALTH IS VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
DISCUSSION.
A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO
PARENTAL GUIDANCE.
YOU KNOW NOT HAVING ELECTRONICS
IN THE ROOMS.
PHONES AND TVs IN THE ROOM.
ME AND MY WIFE WERE THE BAD GUYS
GROWING UP.
MY BOYES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO
HAVE ELECTRONICS IN THE ROOMS.
YOU KNOW PS4 IS IN THE BASEMENT,
ALL OF THAT STUFF.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M GLAD WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT
IN THIS.
AS COUNCILLOR LAMATTINA
ELOQUENTLY STATED AS A DAD AND
CITY WE PUSH KIDS TO DO EXTRA
CIRCULAR ACTIVITIES.
SPORTS OR MUSIC, ART, SCIENCE,
GENERALLY AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING.
I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE NOT
AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS TO MOVE A
SCHOOL DAY BACK.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE
DISCUSSION.
CERTAINLY BECAUSE I HAVE BOYS.
SERBLY BECAUSE IT COULD BE VERY
POSITIVE IMPACT FOR THE KIDS IN
THE CITY OF BOSTON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH.
COUNCILLOR PRESSLEY, OPENING
REMARKS?
YES, RIGHT ON TIME.
>> I'M SURE I WILL HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS.
CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT HEALTHY
STUDENTS ARE BETTER LEARNERS.
DUE TO EXTRA CIRCULAR ACTIVITIES
AND MANY IT DEMANDS ON WORKING
FAMILIES VERY OFTEN OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE COME TO SCHOOL SLEEP
DEPRIVED.
I SEE THE BENEFITS SUPPORTING
THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR
YOUTH TO BE RECEPTIVE TO WHAT IS
BEING TAUGHT TO THEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE
PROCEDURALLY WHAT IT WOULD
REQUIRE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND
THE SHIFTING CULTURALLY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR.
>> I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IT
RELATES TO AFTER SCHOOL AND
EXTRA CIRCULARS.
PARTICULARLY SPORTS.
IF BOSTON DOES THIS IT ISN'T TO
SAY OTHERS WILL FOLLOW SUIT.
SPORTING EVENTS HAPPENING RIGHT
AFTER SCHOOL.
PLAYING LEXINGTON OR WELLESLEY.
THEY WON'T CONFORM TO OUR
SCHEDULE.
WILL THEY STOP INVITING US TO
PARTICIPATE.
HOW DOES THAT WORK ACADEMIC LY I
WENT TO VC HIGH.
IT WAS EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO
RISE MAKES YOU HAPPY, HEALTHY
AND WISE.
THERE ARE TREPBTSDZ ACROSS THE
CITY AND THE COUNTRY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT HAS
IMPLICATIONS.
IT LOOKS THAT THE EXTRA CIRCULAR
ACTIVITIES AND THE SPORTING,
SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS WOULD
TAKE A BACK SEAT, I THINK, TO
SCHOOLING HOUR CHANGES.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET A SENSE FROM
FOLKS IN THE ROOM AS TO CHANGING
THE SCHOOL HOURS, WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN FOR BASEBALL GAMES,
FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY
GAMES, EC CETERA, WOULD WE BE
ABLE TO COMPETE AT THAT LEVEL OR
WOULD WE HAVE TO FOR GO AFTER
SCHOOL SPORTS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU
MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR
FLAHERTY.
>> I TOO WAOUPT TO APPLAUD THE
SPONSORS OF THIS I THINK IT'S
TIME TO MOVE FORWARD ON CHANGING
SCHOOL START TIMES TO 1:30 OR
PAST.
THAT IN BOSTON WE HAVE CITY WIDE
SCHOOLS.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING ALL CITIES
OR TOUPBDZ HAVE.
WE'RE NOT THIS LARGE OF A CITY.
IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO GET
ACROSS THE CITY.
SO, I THINK THIS COULD BE A
TRANSPORTATION'SING METHOD.
NOT HAVING STUDENTS TRAVELING AT
THE PEAK HOURS OF
TRANSPORTATION.
IN ADDITION WE LIVE IN A CITY
WHERE WEATHER IS A ISSUE.
I THINK HAVING ADDITIONAL TIME
IN THAT SPACE.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY STUDENTS
WHOSE SCHEDULE RIVAL MINE AS A
CITY COUNCILOR WITH EXTRA
CIRCULAR ACTIVITIES THEY HAVE.
OFTEN TIMES THEY BRING THEM
THROUGH LATER HOURS IN THE
NIGHT.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO THINK
ABOUT THAT.
I GOT A CALL FROM OWN THIS.
THEY START, THEY CHANGED THEIR
START TIME TO 1:30.
THEY HAVE SEEN PROMISING THINGS
HAPPEN.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS HAS
GONE DOWN.
THERE ARE SEVERAL TWEAKS AROUND
THE TRANSPORTATION THAT HAVE TO
BE, AFTER V. TO BE LOOKED AT.
THEY REMAINED ME THE SLOGAN OF
MAIN IS THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE.
THAT WAS -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE
THINGS THEY SAID IN THE CALL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR THE
EXPERT TESTIMONY AND ENCOURAGED
BY COUNCILLOR GEORGE WHO HAS
MUCH KNOWLEDGE IN THIS SPACE AND
COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY WHO HAS BEEN
A PROPONENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST PANEL.
DR. JUDITH OWENS, DR. CHARLES
SEZLER, MARY MAMEKER.
I WILL HAVE YOU INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND I GIVE YOUR BACK
GROUND AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
TESTIMONY.
>> WHO EVER WOULD LIKE TO GO
FIRST.
>> SO, MY NAME IS DR. JUDY
OWENS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SWEET
MEDICINES AT BOSTON CHILDREN
HOSPITAL AND LEAD AUTHOR OF THE
AMERICAN PEDIATRIC -- ON SCHOOL
START TIMES THIS.
IS A ISSUE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY
HEART.
I SEE THE REPERCUSSIONS DAILY
CLINICALLY OF TEENS THAT DON'T
GET ENOUGH SLEEP AND HAVE A
WHOLE POST OF HEALTH PROBLEMS
ACADEMIC CHALLENGES, SAFETY
ISSUES, RISK TAKING BEHAVIOR AS
A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS.
SO, I'M VERY PASSIONATE AND
EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CONTEMPLATING
MAKING THIS CHANGE.
THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE HEALTH
OF THEIR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
>> I'M DR. CHARLES ZIZELER.
-- SLEEP MEDICINE AND THE
DIRECTOR OF SLEEP MEDICINE AT
THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.
LIKE DR. OWENS I'M PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THE BOSTON
CITY COUNCIL IS CONTEMPLATING
MAKING A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
IN THIS DIRECTION.
I THINK IT DOES HAVE TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE AFTER
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
THIS HAS BEEN MANAGED IN OTHER
SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MINNEAPOLIS
SUCCESSFULLY.
I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,
MY SON WHO IS A CAPTAIN OF THREE
DIFFERENT SPORTS BEFORE HE GRAD
YOU AOUATED A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO -- MOVING THIS ISSUE
FORWARD.
IT IS, SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE A
LEADERSHIP POSITION.
I THINK MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
NEWTON AND OTHER PLACES ARE
CONTEMPLATING CHANGES IN THIS
DIRECTION.
I THINK IF BOSTON WAS TO MOVE IN
THIS DIRECTION IT WOULD HELP SET
THE STATE WIDE NORM WHICH WOULD
FACILITATE CHANGING THE TIMING
OF THE SPORTING ACTIVITIES WAS
OF THE HUGE IMPACT BOSTON HAS ON
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
>> MY NAME IS MARY HAMKER.
I'M THE CHAIR OF MASSACHUSETS
START SCHOOL LATER.
A CHARITY ADVOCATING FOR HEALTHY
START TIMES FOR ADOLESCENCE.
I FORMED THE MASSACHUSETS
CHAPTER IN MARCH 2014.
MY DAUGHTER WAS A JUNIOR IN
NORTH BOROUGH, MASSACHUSETS, AND
SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION AND
ANXIETY.
WATCHING HER NOT GET ENOUGH
SLEEP AND HER SYMPTOMS GET WORST
AND WORST.
I SAW HER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
GO DOWN.
FOR A CHILD WHO HAD BEEN TESTED
SIX WAYS FROM SUNDAY FOR ALL
KINDS OF THINGS INCLUDING
INTELLIGENCE AND TESTED AS
GIFTED.
TO SEE HER GET THE GRADES SHE
WAS GETTING BECAUSE SHE WAS SO
ILL AND SLEEP DEPROEUFBED WAS TO
SAY THE LEAST DISHEARTENING AS A
PARENT.
I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS
IN MASSACHUSETS AND HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE TO MEET WITH DR. OWENS
AND DR. SIZLER.
WE NOW HAVE FOUR TAOEB TOWN
BASED KHAPLTS OF START SCHOOL
LATER.
INCLUDING THE BOSTON CHAPTER.
WILL YOU HEAR FROM THE HEAD OF
THE BOSTON CHAPTER HOPEFULLY
LATER TO DAY.
THERE ARE NOW 79 CHAPTERS NATION
WIDE OF START SCHOOL LATER
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS A ISSUE WHOSE TIME HAS
COME.
THERE ARE LEGITIMATE LOGISTICS
TO TALK ABOUT.
THERE ARE NO UNSURMOUNTABLE
MOUNTAINS.
WE CAN DO THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD I WANT
THE PANEL ADDRESS.
I HEARD YOU SPEAK ABOUT SAFETY,
RISK TAKING ISSUES, AND THE
POSITION FROM A PHYSICAL MENTAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY WELL BEING
ASPECT.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN INSIGHT ON
WHAT THE ACTUAL REPORT SAYS FROM
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS.
>> THAT'S EVEN BETTER.
>> PERHAPS WOULD YOU LIKE TO
START WITH THE PRESENTATION.
>> DR. SIZLER WILL PRESENT
FIRST.
>> I WANT TO PUT THIS IN PERFECT
PERSPECTIVE.
WE THINK OF THIS AS AN ISSUE
WHOSE TIME HAS COME.
ACTUALLY WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT
THIS FOR A CENTURY HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
PROFESSOR LEWIS -- CHAIRMAN OF
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT
STANFORD MORE THAN 20 YEARS, WHO
DEVELOPED IQ TESTING IN THE
UNITED STATES.
HE RECOGNIZED FROM HIS STUDIES
OF SLEEP TIMES IN CHILDREN IN
THE UNITED STATES, COMPARING
THEM WITH OTHER PLACES IN THE
WORLD.
HE FOUND THAT KIDS HERE WERE
SLEEPING ONE TO TWO HOURS MORE A
NIGHT THEN THEY WERE IN EUROPE.
THAT LEAD HIM TO CONCLUDE A
CENTURY AGO IN 1913 THE EUROPEAN
CUSTOM OF BEGINNING SCHOOL AT
7:00 A.M. TO 8:00 A.M. IS A
GREAT HEARD SHIP.
THE AMERICAN PRACTICE OF
9:00 A.M. IS FAR WISER AND NEVER
CHANGED.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE
ENSUING CENTURY, AS WITHOUT
ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE DATA OR
MAKING A DECISION WE HAVE SLOWLY
TEN MINUTES AT A TIME
INCREMENTALLY MOVED OUR TIMES
EARLIER AND THE EUROPEAN'S HAVE
MOVED THEIR START TIMES LATER.
IN EUROPE ONE OF THE -- A
HEADMASTER IN BRITAIN SAID
MOVING THE START TIMES LATER HAD
A BIGGER IMPACT THAN ANY OTHER
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE THEN HE
WAS INVOLVED IN THE PREVIOUS 30
YEARS IN TERMS OF A LEVEL
TESTING PERFORMANCE.
WE HAVE FALL EBB BEHIND.
IN THAT MATTER, IT'S SOMETHING
WE WERE AHEAD OF A CENTURY AGO.
IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE TO STEP
BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE FUNCTION
OF SLOPE.
SO SLEEP HAS A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
ONE OF WHICH IS TO CLEAR
METABOLIC DEBRIS FROM THE BRAIN
AS WE'RE AWAKE.
THE BRAIN USES MORE ENERGY THEN
ANY OTHER ORGAN.
IT'S 2% OF THE BODY BY WEIGHT
BUT USES 20 TO 25% OF GLUCOSE
AND OXYGEN WE CONSUME EACH DAY.
THAT'S A FUEL BURNING AREA
BECAUSE OF THE FIRING OF THE
NEURONS USING A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF ENERGY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS
DURING SLEEP IS WE REPLENISH
THAT ENERGY.
IF WE DON'T THEN THOSE AREAS OF
THE BRAIN ARE SLUGGISH AND DON'T
WORK WELL.
ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENS
DURING SLEEP IS WE CLEAR AWAY
THE METABOLIC DEBRIS.
WHEN YOU HAVE A FURNACE BUILDING
YOU HAVE SLUDGE BUILDUP.
THAT HAPPENS IN THE BRAIN.
WE BUILDUP A PROTEIN CALLED
AMALOBETA.
THAT CAN FORM PLAX AND THAT'S
THE BASIS OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SLEEP
ORDER DISORDERS GET COGNITIVE
IMPAIRMENT AND ALZHEIMER DISEASE
A DECADE EARLIER.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS
DURING SLEEP BESIDES CLEARING
THE METABOLIC DEBRIS IS WE
CONSOLIDATE MEMORY AND LEARNING
DURING SLEEP.
DURING THE FIRST PART OF SLEEP
THAT'S WHEN WE PUT INTO A FILE
CABINET ALL THAT WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT DAY.
THAT'S WHEN WE CONSOLIDATE
SHORT-TERM MEMORY TO LONG TERM
MEMORY.
THEN THE SECOND PART OF THE
NIGHT.
PARTICULARLY THE LAST TWO HOURS
OF THE NIGHT.
RAPID EYE MOVEMENT SLOPE AND
VIVID DREAMING, THAT'S WHEN WE
INTEGRATE THE NEW THINGS WE
LEARNED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT WITH
THE PREVIOUS INFORMATION WE HAD
KNOWN.
THAT'S WHERE INFERENCE
CREATIVITY PROBLEM SOLVING TAKES
PLACE DURING THE RAPID EYE
MOVEMENT SLEEP.
IF WE CUT OFF THE LAST COUPLE OF
HOURS OF SLEEP BY SHORT CHANGING
OURSELVES AND NOT REALIZING THAT
SLEEP IS DEPOTSED OF DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS THEN WE ACTUALLY CUT
OFF OUR ABILITY TO BRING
TOGETHER THE MEMORIES WITH WHAT
WE KNOW AND THE ABILITY TO
DWAYNE INSIGHT OF WHAT WE
LEARNED FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY.
THAT'S WHY HAVING SCHOOL
CHILDREN GET ENOUGH SLEEP IS SO
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AFTER ALL THEY ARE THERE TO
LEARN.
BY HAVING THEM CHRONICALLY SLEEP
DEPRIVED WE IMPAIR THEIRABLE TO
DO SO.
IT'S ALMOST RECOGNIZED SLEEP IS
IMPORTANT TO THE BODY.
AS ELUDED TOO BY COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY IF CHILDREN DON'T GET
ENOUGH SLEEP THEY GAIN WEIGHT.
BECAUSE IT CHANGES METABOLISMS.
WE ARE INSULIN RESISTENT.
THE KIDS ARE AT GREATER RISK OF
DIABETES.
THEY CAN'T METABOLIZE
EFFICIENTLY THE ENERGY THEY
TAKE.
IN IT INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE
AND CARDIO SAS CUE HRAR RISK AND
DEGRADES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
IF YOU GET FOUR OR FIVE HOURS
ONLY A NIGHT OF SLEEP THEN YOU
HAVE HALF OF THE ANTIBODY
RESPONSE TO A FLU SHOW THE YOU
GET THIS FALL, THEN IF YOU GET A
SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF SLEEP.
ALSO ONE THING THAT GETS THE
ATHLETES ATTENTION IS WHEN I
POINT OUT TO THEM IF YOU GET
FOUR HOURS A SLOPE A NIGHT FOR A
WEEK YOUR TESTOSTERONE LEVELS
DECREASE TO ELEVEN YEARS OF
AGING.
IT IMPAIRS OUR ABILITY TO
PRODUCE GROWTH HORMONE,
TESTOSTERONE AND OTHER CRITICAL
HORMONES THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR
THE TRANSITION OF ADOLESCENCE TO
ADULTS.
FINALLY SLEEP IS CRITICAL FOR
OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FOLK US
AND ATTENTION.
WHEN WE DON'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP
ADOLESCENCE ARE AT PARTICULARLY
INCREASED RISK OF BEING MISS
DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD.
THE SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DEFICIENCY
MIMIC ADHD.
THE FOCUS AND INCREASEDY
PHO +*EGSS, PEOPLE ARE MORE
VOLATILE AND MORE LIKELY TO BE
SENT TO THE SCHOOL NURSE.
THAT LEADS EVENTUALLY TO A
PRESCRIPTION FOR A TYPE OF
AMPHETAMINE USED IN THE
TREATMENT -- THEY'RE ALL WHAT WE
GIVE OUR KIDS INSTEAD OF
ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF SLEEP.
AS WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILLOR
OWE MALLY, THESE ADOLESCENCE
NEED AT LEAST NINE TO TEN OURS
OF SLEEP PER NIGHT.
IF YOU JUST DO THE ARITHMETIC,
YOU CAN'T GET UP AT 5:00 O'CLOCK
IN THE MORNING AND BE ABLE TO GO
TO SLEEP AT AN ADEQUATE TIME.
SO, THEN THE QUESTION IS, FIRST
OF ALL, HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE GOOD
SLEEP HEALTH IN THE ADOLESCENCE
IN THE BOSTON CITY HIGH SCHOOLS.
THE FIRST CRITICAL THING IS TO
HAVE A MINIMUM OF ELEVEN HOUR
INTERVAL BETWEEN THE LAST
SCHEDULED ACTIVITY AND THE START
OF SCHOOL.
SO, IF YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL, KIDS
STARTING AT 7:00 A.M. THEN YOU
SHOULDN'T ALLOW ANY SCHEDULED
SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITIES TO
GO AFTER 8:00 P.M. AT NIGHT.
THAT RESULTS IN A HUGE HIT ON
PLAYS, EVENING GATHERINGS, A
SEPL PWHRAOEZ AND OTHER SCHOOL
SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES.
BASKETBALL GAMES, ETCETERA,
THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT INTERVAL
WHERE THE KIDS CAN CONSISTENTLY
SLEEP BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO
SLEEP IS DEPENDENT NOT ON
ADEQUATE TIME TO DO SO BUT THE
OTHER THING THAT REGULATES THE
ABILITY TO SLEEP SO ONE IS SLEEP
PRESSURE.
HOW MUCH SLEEP HAVE YOU GOTTEN.
THE OTHER IS AN INTERNAL BUY
LONG CAL CLOCK IN THE BRAIN.
CONTROLLING THE TIMING OF OUR
ABILITY TO SLEEP.
PARADOXICALLY THIS SENDS OUT A
STRONGEST DRIVE FOR WAKING JUST
BEFORE WHAT WOULD BE DUSK IN THE
OUTSIDE WORLD OR WOULD BE THE
TIME WE ORDINARILY GO TO BED.
WHY IS THAT?
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY IT'S
SET UP THIS WAY.
THE SPECULATION IS THAT, THIS IS
TRUE OF ALMOST ALL DAY ACTIVE
SPECIES.
THEY GET A TREMENDOUS SURGE OF
ENERGY AND ACTIVITY BEFORE DUST
IN THEIR LOCAL TIME ZONE.
PRESUMABLY TO GET THEIR NEST OR
SAFE PLACE OR WHATEVER -- GET
THEIR ACT TOGETHER BEFORE THE
SUP GOES DOWN AND THEY CAN'T SEE
ANYTHING AND THEY CAN'T THERE,
IF YOU HAVE GONE CAMPING, IF YOU
DON'T HAVE A TENT SET UP BEFORE
DARK IT'S DIFFICULT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE A NAP AND
WAKE UP AND IT'S DARK.
THE INTERNAL CLOCK IS SET UP TO
SEND OUT A STRONG DRIVE FOR
WAKEFULNESS JUST BEFORE OUR
USUAL SLEEP TIME.
THE CONS KWEBS IS IT'S HARD FOR
KIDS TO GO TO BED EARLIER THAN A
USUAL BED TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS
WITH ADOLESCENCE.
THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED.
WITH THE ON SET OF TUBE ERTY
THEIR INTERNAL CLOCK MOVES TO A
LATER HOUR THEN AT 8 OR 10 YEARS
OLD.
THAT MOVEMENT OF THE INTERNAL
CLOCK MEANS THIS WAKE
MAINTENANCE ZONE, THIS SURGE OF
ENERGY IS LATER IN THE EVENING,
MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE KIDS
TO GO TO BED WHEN COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY, NOT JUST PICKING ON
YOU, BUT WHEN YOU STATED GOING
TO BED AT 8:00 O'CLOCK IN THE
EVENING, THEY SIMPLY CAN'T.
THEY CAN'T FALL A SLEEP AT THAT
TIME EVEN IF THEY WERE MOTIVATED
TO TRY TO GO TO BED AT THAT TIME
TO GET ADEQUATE SLEEP.
THE INTERNAL CLOCK IS SENDING
OUT A SURGE OF ENERGY AND
ACTIVITY THAT ASK PRECLUDING
THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO BED AT
THAT TIME.
THE YOUNGER KIDS, 6 OR 7, 8 THEY
GO TO BED AT THAT TIME.
AFTER PUBERTY THEY CAN'T.
WE HAVE THE SYSTEM FLIPPED.
MANY TIMES THE YOUNGER KIDS ARE
SENT TO SCHOOL LATER AND THE
OLDER KIDS HAVE EARLIER START
TIMES.
IT SHOULD BE QUITE THE REVERSE.
WHEN WE DON'T GIVE THE KIDS
ADEQUATE TIME FOR SLEEP THAT
INCREASES NOT ONLY TARDINESS AND
ABSENCES BUT INCREASES RISK OF
MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES.
ONE OUT OF FIVE CRASHES AND
DEATHS ARE RELATED TO SLEEP
DEFICIENCY.
THAT IMPAIRS ABILITY TO LEARN,
INCREASE RISK OF DID I PRESSES
AND SUICIDAL IDEALATION,
INCREASE RISK TAKING, INCREASE
DIABETES AND OBESITY, AND.
FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A CHANGE
AND DR. OWENS --
>> DR. OWENS, YOU BRING US
THROUGH THIS PART ONE OF YOUR
PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF US.
>> I CAN CERTAINLY DOUGH THAT.
I THINK THAT DR. SIZLER HAS
COVERED A LOT OF THAT.
SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND I WOULD
LIKE TO FOCUS.
THAT WAS PART ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON PART
TWO AND THREE.
PART TWO IS MORE EMBELLISH MINTS
OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF IN
SUFFICIENT SLEEP.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT THE DATA THAT SUGGESTS
VERY STRONGLY THAT HEALTHY
SCHOOL START TIMES MITIGATE SOME
OF THE IMPACT, NEGATIVE IMPACT
OF IN SUFFICIENT SLEEP.
SO, SOME OF THIS IS --
DR. SIZLER HAS COVERED IN A OVER
VIEW.
I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THAT THE
FIRST AND THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATHS IN ADOLESCENCE BETWEEN
THE AGES OF 15 AND 19 ARE
UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES.
INCLUDING DROWSY DRIVING CRASHES
AND THE THIRD MOST COMMON CAUSE
OF DEATH IS SUICIDE.
SO, THE FACT THAT IN SUFFICIENT
SLEEP IMPACTS BOTH OF THOSE HUGE
CAUSES OF MORTALITY IN THE
ADOLESCENCE POPULATION REALLY
HAS MADE THIS BECOME A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE.
IT'S AN ACADEMIC ISSUE,
EDUCATIONAL ISSUE.
FIRST AND FOR MOST IT'S A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE.
SO, I WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE
TIME TALKING ABOUT SLEEP AND
REGULATION OF MOOD AND BEHAVIOR.
WE KNOW WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE
SLEEP DEPRAOEUFRD IN
EXPERIMENTAL SETTINGS AND THEY
HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF THEIR
BRAINS UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS
ONE MAYOR MOST IMPACTED WITH THE
PREFRONTAL CORTEX IT GOVERNS
WHAT WE CALL DECISION MAKING,
PLANNING, PROBLEM SOLVING,
OBSERVING BEHAVIORS AND
ANTICIPATING CONSEQUENCES,
MODULATION OF EMOTIONS.
NOT ONLY THAT, THIS IS A PART OF
THE BRAIN UNDERGOING TREMENDOUS
CHANGES PARTICULARLY DURING
ADOLESCENCE.
WE'RE HITTING THESE KIDS WITH A
SPECIFIC TOXIN AT THE TIME THE
BRAIN IS MOST RAPIDLY DEVELOPING
HERE.
SIMILARLY WE KNOW THAT 
SLEEPDEPRIVATION IMPACTS THE
EMOTIONAL BRAIN.
THAT MEANS THERE IS A HEIGHTENED
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE PARTICULARLY
TO NEGATIVE STIMULI.
ALSO WITH LESS CONTROL OVER THAT
RESPONSE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EMOTIONAL
REGULATION IN TEENAGERS.
YOU KNOW A LOT OF WHAT WE
ATTRIBUTE TO HORMONES MAY
ACTUALLY BE DUE IN TERMS OF
THEIR EMOTION OTHER REACTIVITY
MAYBE DUE TO CHRONIC SLEEP LOSS.
A THIRD AREA OF THE BRAIN
SELECTIVELY IMPACTED BY IN
SUFFICIENT SLEEP IS THE
STRIATUM.
THAT REGULATES SLEEP CONTROL.
-- THEY PERCEIVE LESS IN THE WAY
OF NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR
RISK TAKING BEHAVIOR.
THAT PLAYS OUT IN A MYRIAD OF
CONCERNS.
THINGS LIKE SUBSTANCE USE.
THINGS LIKE UNHEALTHY SEXUAL OR
EARLY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.
MAKING POOR DECISIONS.
USING ALCOHOL AND PARTICULARLY
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
ALCOHOL.
A HOST OF ADOLESCENT RISK TAKING
BE HAIR.
WE KNOW ARE IMPACTED BY IN
SUFFICIENT SLEEPPĶ/cm THIS.
IS A(SLIDE FROM THE -- FROM THE
CENTER OF DISEASE CONTROL.
A STUDY WHICH LOOKED AT
COMPARISON OF STUDENTS WHO GET
LESS THAN EIGHT HOURS HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS VERSUS MORE
HOURS.
THESE RISK BEHAVIORS MORE LIKELY
INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL FIGHTS,
SMOKING MARIJUANA BEING SEXUALLY
ACTIVE, FEELING SAD OR HOPELESS.
THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
COMMON IN STUDENTS GETTING THAT
LESS AMOUNT OF SLEEP.
DR. SIZLER ELUDED TO THE ISSUE
OF INCREASED OBESITY RISK AND
MET OWE BOT I CAN DYSFUNCTION
BEING LINKED TO IN SUFFICIENT
SLEEP IN CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENCE AS WELL.
THAT PROBABLY REFLECTS HORMONAL
CHANGES AND CAN BE IMPACTED BY
BEHAVIORAL CHANGES LINKED TO IN
SUFFICIENT SLEEP.
FOR EXAMPLE STUDENTS WITH LESS
SLEEP IS LESS LIKELY TO EAT
SLEEP.
THAT'S A RISK FACTOR FOR
OBESITY.
CHILDREN NOT GETTING ENOUGH
SLEEP, MAYBE TOO TIRED TO
EXERCISE.
THAT ALSO PLAY THOSE THE,
LEGITIMATE CONCERN ABOUT
ATHLETICS AND ATHLETIC
PERFORMANCE.
I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT
ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND THE
RISK OF INJURIES MAYBE IMPACTED
UPON BY SLEEP.
NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP.
THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION.
THIS NEXT SLIDE TOUCHES ON THAT.
WE KNOW THAT A -- SUBSTANTIAL
PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS WHO ARE DRIVING, ADMIT
TO DRIVING DROWSY.
WE KNOW THAT I AM PARENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH DROWSY DRIVING
CAN BE EQUIVALENT TO THE
CONSUMPTION OF THREE TO FOUR
BEERS.
IE BEING MODERATELY INTOXICATED.
A PARENT NEVER ALLOWING A
TEENAGER TO KNOWINGLY GET BEHIND
THE WHOLE HAVING CONSUMED THROW
OR FOUR BEERS, ALLOW THAT'S TO
HAPPEN DAILY WHEN KIDS DRIVE
THEMSELVES TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
WE THOUGH SLEEP LOSS IS RELATED
TO PEDESTRIAN INJURIES.
FOR EXAMPLE IN CHILDREN, WE KNOW
FROM AT LEAST ONE STUDY THAT
SLEEP LOSS IS ASSOCIATED WITH
INCREASED SPORTS RELATED INJURED
IN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES.
ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH ALMOST A
THREEFOLD RISK FOR ADOLESCENCE
HAVING WORK RELATED INJURIES
THAT REQUIRE MEDICAL CARE.
IT GOES BEYOND SCHOOL.
IT IMPACTS ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE,
LIKELY OF GETTING INJURIES.
BOTH ON THE PLAYING FIELD AND
AFTER SCHOOL JOBS.
SO, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
OTHERWISE I WILL MOVE ONTO THE
THIRD SECTION.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> IS ONE OF THE THINGS I
APPRECIATE SWITCHING TO PART
THEE.
THE ATHLETIC PIECE IS IMPORTANT
AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT.
IN BOSTON WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE
WORKING AFTER SCHOOL, NOT JUST
BECAUSE OF A PART TIME ACTIVITY
BUT THEY'RE ALSO SUPPORTING
FAMILY INCOME.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALSO
MEN THAT WORK RELATED PIECE AS
WELL.
>> I GOT THAT.
I GOT YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> SO, THIS, I WILL TRY TO BE
BRIEF.
THIS -- HERE I WILL PRESENT THE
EVIDENCE SUPPORTING HEALTHY
SCHOOL START TIMES AS A MEANS OF
IMPROVING HEALTH, SAFETY AND
PERFORMANCE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS.
IT'S BEEN ELUDE STOOD SEVERAL
TIMES ALREADY.
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS IN 2014 CAME OUT IN
FAVOR OF THIS.
THIS WAS A FOUR-YEAR PROCESS AND
A WELL VETTED DECISION ON PART
OF THE AP.
I'M TRULY DELIGHTED.
IT HAS MADE A BIG IMPACT ON
SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILLINGNESS TO
THINK ABOUT THIS.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER THIS
CONCEPT OF CHANGING SCHOOL START
TIMES, DELAYING START TIMES
DATES BACK TO THE MID 1990s.
WHEN IN MINNESOTA THEY STARTED
START TIMES.
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXACT FIGURE ON
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY DOING THIS.
WE THINK AT LEAST A THOUSAND
HIGH SCHOOLS, MORE THAN A
HUNDRED DISTRICTS IN 43 STATES
HAVE CHANGED START TIMES.
ALMOST NONE WITH A RARE
EXCEPTION HAVE GONE BACK TO THE
ORIGINAL BELL TIMES.
THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
STATEMENT.
OVER ALL WE KNOW LESS THAN TO
PERCENT OF MID AND HIGH SCHOOLS
IN THE U.S. START AT THE
RECOMMENDED 8:30 AND LATER.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE FIGURES OF
BOSTON AND MASSACHUSETS
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH.
THINK THIS IS A IMPORTANT POINT
AS WELL.
STUDENTS IN EARLIER STARTING
SCHOOLS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN
A ETHNIC MINORITY.
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE HRUPB
SKP-FP LESS EDUCATED PARENTS.
SO THIS ISSUE OF EARLY SCHOOL
START TIMES MAY WELL DISPORTION
ATELY AFFECT THE POOREST
CHILDREN AND CHILDREN FROM
RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINE OEFRPLTS
THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
TO KEEP IN MIND.
THIS SHOWS MASSACHUSETS DOES NOT
LOOK TERRIBLY GOOD OVER ALL IN
COMPARISON WITH THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY.
BE THAT AS IT MAY WE'RE HERE TO
CHANGE THAT.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OUT COMES THAT
HAVE BEEN -- BED TIMES REMAIN
THE SAME OR SOME STUDIES
INCLUDING OUR OWN THEY SHIFT
SOMEWHAT EARLIER.
THIS MISS CONSUMPTION THAT KIDS
WILL STAY UP ANOTHER HOUR IF
SCHOOL STARTS LATER HAS NOT BEEN
BORN OUT IN ANY OF THE PUBLISHED
STUDIES.
AS A RESULT STUDENTS GET MORE
SLEEP.
PARTICULARLY THAT MORNING,
CRITICAL SLEEP WHERE THEY GET#xlũz
REM SLEEP RAPID EYE MOVEMENT
SLEEP.
IN TWO STUDIES WE HAVE DONE,
EVEN A 30-MINUTE DELAY CAN
RESULT IN IMPROVEMENTS.
PARTICULARLY IF THE SCHOOL START
TIME CHANGE GOES TO 8:30 OR
LATER.
THAT'S A REALLY CRITICAL PIECE
HERE.
STUDENTS REPORT LESS SLEEP IN
CLASS, DOING HOMEWORK, ETCETERA,
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, ATTENDANCE
IMPROVES.
TARDY RATES DROP.
DROP OUT RATES DECLINE IN THE
MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR
EXAMPLE.
STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES
IMPROVE, GRADES IMPROVE, AND IT
MAYBE AGAIN THE DISADVANTAGE
STUDENTS MAY BENEFIT RELATIVELY
MORE.
THERE MAYBE A LARGER AFFECT OF
DELAYING SCHOOL START TIMES AT
THE LOWER END OF GRADE
DISTRIBUTIONS.
STUDENTS DOING POORLY TO BEGIN
WITH BUT ALSO MAY AFFECT RACIAL
AND ETHNIC MINORITIES AS WELL.
HEALTH AND SAFETY, SCHOOL START
TIMES THAT ARE -- DELAYED ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED MOOD,
LESS DEPRESSIVE SYSTEMS, LESS
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
DECREASED CYSTS TO THE SCHOOL
HEALTH CENTER, LOWER HEALTHCARE
COSTS, AND SAFETY.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE
THINGS IN MY MIND IS KHA +*EUPBGDZ
CHANGES IN SCHOOL START TIMES
CAN LEAD TO AS MUCH AS A 65-70%
REDUCTION OR BE ASSOCIATED WITH,
I SHOULD SAY, IN CAR CRASHES IN
THE ADOLESCENT POPULATION.
IT'S HARD FOR ME AS A PUBLIC
HEALTH PERSON TO IMAGINE A
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE WITH THAT
BIG OF A BANG FOR THE BUCKS.
SPEAKING OF BUCKS, THE BOOKINGS
INSTITUTE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO,
PUBLISHED A SUMMARY OF THE THREE
MOST IMPACTFUL KHAEUBGZ PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO MAKE TO IMPROVE
EARNING POTENTIAL AMONG
STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE THROW WAS DELAYING
HIGH SCHOOL START TIMES.
THAT THE COST OF CHANGING START
TIMES WHICH IS USUALLY LARGELY
RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION COSTS
IS OFF SET BY A IMPROVEMENT IN
STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND
INCREASED EARNING POTENTIAL
EVENTUALLY.
THIS HAS HUGE REPERCUSSIONS FOR
STUDENTS ECONOMICALLY AT A
DISADVANTAGE.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES WE WILL
TALK MORE ABOUT.
COSTS, THE ISSUE OF ATHLETIC
PRACTICES, AFTER SCHOOL
EMPLOYMENT, CHILD CARE FOR
YOUNGER SIBLINGS.
ADJUSTMENTS IN KPAEURPBTS WORK
SCHEDULES.
OVER ALL, AS I'M SURE WILL YOU
HEAR FROM ALL OF US IS THAT
MOOSE WILL THESE ADJUSTMENTS ARE
SUCCESSFULLY MADE BY
COMMUNITIES.
MAINLY THE ANTICIPATION OUT
WEIGHS WHAT TRANSPIRES IN ALL
CHALLENGES.
I WOULD MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT
THAT TO DO NOTHING IS TO DO
HARM.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT
IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH.
COUNCILLOR GEORGE.
>>
>> SO THE DOCTORS HAVE MENTIONED
NATIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE SUPPORTING LATER SCHOOL
START TIMES.
I WANTED TO ADD THE MASSACHUSETS
MEDICAL SOCIETY JOINS THAT
COURSE OF VOICES LAST YEAR AT
THEIR ANNUAL MEETING THEY
ADOPTED A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS STATEMENT ON SCHOOL
START TIME.
IT'S NOT JUST THE MASSACHUSETS
MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT IS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS.
OUR OWN MASSACHUSETS ASSOCIATION
OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES IN 2015
NOVEMBER MEETINGS ADOPTED A
RESOLUTION SCIENTIFIC MERIT
CHANGING START TIMES OF SCHOOL
AND CALLING FOR A STUDY OF THE
ISSUES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE
BEGAN TO ACT.
THERE ARE 14 TOWN BASE IT DID
CHAPTERS OF START SCHOOL LATER.
EACH ONE PRECEDING AT THE PACE
THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEIR SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
IN ADDITION START SCHOOL LATER
MASSACHUSETS IS AWARE OF 18
OTHER MASSACHUSETS TOWNS AND
CITIES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING OR
LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY
SCHOOL START TIMES FOR
ADOLESCENCE.
NOTABLY AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
ATHLETICS.
THE MIDDLESEX ATHLETIC LEAGUE
SUPERINTENDENT GOT TOGETHER AND
ISSUED A PLEDGE THEY WOULD EACH
CHANGE THE START OF THEIR HIGH
SCHOOL START TIME TO BETWEEN
8:00 AND 8:30 A.M. BY THE FALL
OF 2018.
EFFECTIVELY TAKING ATHLETICS OFF
THE TABLE AS A LODGISTIC OR
REASON THIS CAN NOT BE DONE.
THE SHAEURB HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL.
IMPLEMENTING LATER SCHOOL START
TIME IN 2010 HAS BEEN A
WONDERFUL SPEAKER AND ADVOCATE
ACROSS THE STATE SLAYERING
GENEROUSLY THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH
LATER SCHOOL START TIMES WHEN
ASKED ABOUT ATHLETICS I THINK
HE'S A LITTLE IMPRESSED WITH HIS
OWN POWER.
HE SAID WE JUST TOLD OTHER
SCHOOLS WHEN OUR KIDS WOULD BE
AVAILABLE.
THEY ADJUSTED TO US.
WE DIDN'T ADJUST TO THEM.
I'M WORKING WITH THE NORTH
BOROUGH, SOUTH BOROUGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT LOOKING AT THE CHANGE.
>> THEY'RE LOOK AT
TRANSPORTATION AS THE LAST
REMAINING ISSUE TO RESOLVE.
ATHLETICS ARE VERY IMPORTANT I
THINK IT'S RESOLVABLE.
IT IS NOT INSURMOUNTABLE IT SORT
OF MAKES ME SMILE TO BE ON THIS
PANEL WITH DR. SIZLER.
I THINK HIS NICKNAME IS
DR. SLEEP GIVEN TO HIM BY THE
BOSTON CELTICS.
HE WORKED WITH THE BOSTON
CELTICS MANAGEMENT TO ADJUST
THEIR PRACTICE SCHEDULES TO HELP
IMPROVE THE ATHLETICS, EACH
ATHLETES PERFORMANCE THIS.
IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOW BEING
TAKEN UP BY NOT ONLY OTHER
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES BUT NOW
WORKING INTO COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
LAST FALL THERE WAS A ARTICLE
ABOUT SOME OF THE -- PROMINENT
FOOTBALL TEAMS WHO BRING THEIR
STUDENTS, THEIR COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PLAYERS IN EARLY FOR -- PRACTICE
BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS.
THEY SET UP DORMITORIES AND THE
COACHES SLEEP WITH THE KIDS.
KEEPING CELLPHONES OFF AND
LIGHTS OFF.
THEY'RE FULLY COGNIZANT OF THE
BODY OF RESEARCH THAT SLEEP AND
ALGT LETTICS GO HAND AND HAND
THIS.
IS SOMETHING THAT THE HIGH
SCHOOL ATHLETICS COULD CERTAINLY
TAKE NOTICE OF.
THE LIST OF TOWNS IN
MASSACHUSETS THAT HAVE ALREADY
MADE THE CHANGE.
IT'S SUBSTANTIAL.
ARLINGTON AND ASHLAND CHANGING
IN FALL 2017.
CANTON -- PHARLHEAD, CHARTER
SCHOOLS, MEDWAY -- CHANGING IN
FALL 2017 --
SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN
OPERATING AT A LATER START TIME
AS EARLY AS 2015.
THEIR RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT
WITH THE OUT COMES THAT
DR. OWENS MENTIONED.
THINGS LIKE A DRAMATIC DROP IN D
AND F LETTER GRADES.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TARDINESS RATES
AND ABSENCES.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU DON'T
HAVE TO START WAY WHITE PIECE OF
PAPER.
SCHOOLS DO THIS.
THEY MAY NOT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE
BOSTON BUT HAVE A LOT OF
SIMILARITIES TO BOSTON.
FOR EXAMPLE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY,
VIRGINIA, THE TENTH LARGEST
DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES.
MORE THAN 28 PERCENT OF STUDENTS
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED
PRICED MEALS.
MORE THAN 17% RECEIVE ENGLISH AS
A SECOND LANGUAGE SKEFRBS.
DEMOGRAPHICALLY 47 PERCENT ARE
WHITE.
24 PERCENT ARE HISPANIC.
19 PERCENT ASIAN AMERICANS,
10 PERCENT AFRICAN AMERICANS,
5 PERCENT MULTI RACIAL.
THE DISTRICTS FLEET OF 160 BUSES
TRANSPORTS THESE STUDENTS DAILY.
IN 2015 FAIRFAX CHANGED THE
START TIME FROM 7:20 A.M. TO
8:00 TO 815 AO +*PL.
THE DATA FROM THE CHANGE IS
BEING ANALYZED AND HOPEFULLY
AVAILABLE SOON.
BEFORE A DEPOSITING THE CHANGE
OFFICIALS GATHERED A LOT OF DATA
ABOUT THE FAMILIES IN THEIR
DISTRICT INCLUDING SURVEYS THAT
THEY SPONSORED IN ENGLISH AND
SPANISH TO DETERMINE THE FACTORS
THAT WOULD PRESENT THE GREATEST
CHALLENGES TO THEIR FAMILIES IN
THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE SURVEY
DATA THE COMMITTEE ASSUMED THE
STARTING HIGH SCHOOL LATER WOULD
DISRUPT CHILD CARE FOR
ECONOMICALLY MARGINNIZED
FAMILIES THIS.
DATA DIDN'T SUPPORT THE
ASSUMPTION.
STUD THEY RECEIVED ANECDOTES
ABOUT STUDENTS WORKING A EVENING
SHIFT WITH PARENTS AND WHO ARE
NOT HOME TO START HOMEWORK UNTIL
AFTER 12:1 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
THEY HAVE WELCOMED A LATER START
TIME TO GET ADDITIONAL SLEEP AND
BE ABLE BETTER TO LEARN.
A KEYLESS ON IS SCHOOL DISTRICTS
GATHERING DATA ABOUT THE NEEDS
OF FAMILIES IN THEIR DISTRICT
BEFORE DECIDING WHICH ISSUES ARE
OR ARE NOT A PRIORITY.
ANOTHER CRITICAL MESSAGE FROM
FAIRFAX COUNTY AND EVERY
SUCCESSFUL CHANGE IS THAT THERE
ARE CERTAIN WILL
CHARACTERISTICS.
ONE IS LEADERSHIP.
IF YOUR SUPERINTENDENT ISN'T
ONBOARD THIS IS GOING NOWHERE.
TWO, EDUCATION OF ALL STAKE
HOLDERS FROM THE WIDER SCHOOL
COMMUNITY ABOUT WHY ARE YOU
MESSING WITH THE PERSONAL
LOGISTICS OF THE FAMILY. THEY
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF
DISGRUNTLED FAMILIES.
THIS EFFORT WOULD GO NOWHERE.
AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS AND ADHERE
THE CONCERNS AND FEARS WARRANTED
OR NOT, LETTING PEOPLE VENT
MATTERS.
SUFFICIENT TIME BEFORE THE
CHANGE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE
THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO
FAMILY, WORK, EXTRA CIRCULAR AND
CHILD CARE SCHEDULES THAT IS THE
FACTORS TO MAKE THIS CHANGE
SUCCESSFUL.
THE MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL DISTRICT
MADE THIS CHANGE IN THE 1990s.
ABOUT 23% OF THE MINNEAPOLIS
STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
ENGLISH LEARNER SERVICES.
74% HAVE AT LEAST ONE ENGLISH
LEARNER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
IN SPRING OF 2014, FOUR THOUSAND
STUDENTS WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF
THE UNITED STATES REPRESENTING
114 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
-- COMPARED WITH 57% OF THE NON
ENGLISH LEARNER POPULATION.
AS OF 2013, 4 PERCENT OF ENGLISH
LEARNERS ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS
OR HIGHLY MOBILE.
13.6 PERCENT OF ALL ENGLISH
LEARNERS QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL
EDUCATION SERVICES.
IN THE LATE 90s THE
MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROVIDED CHILDREN WITH MORE THAN
8 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES OR TARRED
HE'S PER CEMENTSTER IS AUTOMATIC
WHRAOE DROPPED FROM THE CLASS.
A STUDENT WHO SLEEPS OR MISSES A
SCHOOL BUS IN THE MORNING AND
MISSING THE FIRST HOUR OR TWO OF
SCHOOL IS AUTOMATICALLY DROPPED
FROM THE ENROLLMENT LIST.
TO AVOID HAVING THESE AVOID A
TRANSCRIPT MANY STUDENTS WITH
DRAW FROM THE SCHOOL AND
REENROLL IN A NEIGHBORING SCHOOL
IN THE DISTRICT.
AT TIMES THERE WERE SO MANY
STUDENTS MOVING THAT TRANSCRIPTS
COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE
MOVEMENTS.
THE 1997-98 SCHOOL YEAR THEY
MOVED BELL TIMES FROM 7:15 A.M.
TO 8:00 AND 8:15 A.M.
THE CHANGE RESULTED IN
STATISTICALLY MORE STUDENTS
REMAINING ENROLLED IN THE SAME
DISTRICT OR SCHOOL.
SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT STUDIES OF
THE STUDENT PERFORMANCE BY THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT ITSELF FOUND
STUDENTS REMAINING IN THE
SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT HAVE A
HIGHER SCORE ON ACHIEVEMENT
TESTS AND HAVE HIGHER RATES OF
GRADUATION AND SCHOOL COMPLETION
THEN STUDENTS THAT MOVE SCHOOL
TO SCHOOL.
HAVING A LATER START TIME FOR
THE FIRST HOUR OF CLASS APPEARS
TO HAVE ENABLED MORE STUDENTS
NOT TO OVER SLEEP AND ARRIVE TO
SCHOOL ON TIME.
FINALLY THIS FALL SEATING PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM CHANGED THEIR
START TIME.
THEY SERVE MANY ETHIC GROUPS.
TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES SEATTLE
PERFORMED A STAKE HOLDER TASK
FORCE GATHERING INFORMATION FROM
THE COMMUNITY AND PREPARING
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY CONDUCTED SURVEYS OF THE
FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT TO FIND
OUT THEIR CONCERNS IF THE
ACADEMIC DAY CHANGED TO A LATER
TIME.
THE SEATTLE SURVEY AND THE
ANALYSIS OFFERS EXCELLENT IDEAS
FOR ANY URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
THAT SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT OF SCHOOL START CHANGE
FOR THE IMPACT OF A SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
THEY FOUND SUPPORT FOR LATER
SCHOOL TIMES ACROSS FAMILIES OF
RACIAL AND ETHNIC LINES.
THE ISSUE THEY FOCUSED ON IS
AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE AND
AFTER SCHOOL STUDENT EMPLOYMENT.
APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT FROM
PACIFIC ISLANDER, HISPANIC AND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS
RESPONDED IF THEY CARE FOR
YOUNGER CHILDREN AFTER SCHOOL
COMPARED TO 27 PERCENT AND
43 PERCENT FOR OTHER ETHNIC
GROUPS.
ALTHOUGH THE RATE OF AFTER
SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT WAS LOW FOR
HIGH SCHOOL POPULATION AS A
WHOLE, THE RATE OF AFTER SCHOOL
EMPLOYMENT WAS HIGHER FOR NATIVE
AMERICAN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
HISPANIC STUDENTS.
EVEN SO THOSE ETHNIC GROUPS
FAVORED LATER START TIMES.
THE SURVEY PRESENTED VARIOUS
OPTIONS INCLUDE NOTHING CHANGE
AT ALL TO THE BELL TIME.
AND ASKED RESPOND ENDS TO
INDICATE THEIR PREFERENCE.
ONCE CHANGE STOOD OUT WITH
STRONG SUPPORT.
EVEN WHEN ANALYZED BY RACE AND
ETHNICITY.
THIS WAS APPROVED AND
IMPLEMENTED THIS PAST FALL.
HEALTHY, SAFE, AND -- HEALTH,
SAFETY AND ACADEMIC BENEFITS FOR
ADOLESCENCE ARE CLEAR.
HOW SCHOOLS GET TO THE GOAL
VARY.
THE JOURNEY STARTS WAY
UNCOMPROMISING BELIEF IN
OPERATING SCHOOLS IN A WAY THAT
OPTIMIZES HEALTH AND SAFETY SO
OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE BEST
OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE
DETERMINED TO OBTAIN THIS OUT
COME HAVE DONE SO AND DOCUMENTED
THEIR PATH TO SUCCESS.
NOTHING SHOULD STAND IN BOSTON'S
WAY OF FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL
URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THE GOAL IS OUR FOR THE TAKING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH
COUNCILLOR GEORGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
AND PRESENTATION TODAY.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT TWEAKING
A SCHOOL SCHEDULE AT A SMALLER,
SMALLER SEGMENT OPPOSED TO
730s TO 830 THRAO +*EUPL OR
9:00.
IS THERE A BENEFIT TO PUSH TO 20
MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES?
IT'S NOT QUITE THE RECOMMEND THE
START TIME BUT CLOSER AND
SENSITIVE TO THE NODES OF OUR
FAMILIES AND KIDS.
>> YOU KNOW I THINK IF YOU ASKED
THAT QUESTION A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO I WOULD OF SAID -- TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT I BELIEVE ANY
DELAY IN SCHOOL START TIME IS
GOING TO HAVE SOME BENEFIT FOR
STUDENTS.
I THINK THERE IS AN EMERGING
STORY THAT THIS 8:30 START TIME
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST HOW MUCH
SLEEP YOU GET, IT'S WHEN YOU
SLEEP.
THAT IS REALLY CRITICAL.
IN ORDER FOR STUDENTS SKEWED
AOULZ TO MEASURE THEIR
UNDERLYING BIOLOGY -- STUDENTS
TO MEASURE THEIR UNDERLYING
BOYOLOGY THE 8:30 START TIME OR
LATER SEEMS TO BE MUCH MORE IN
CONCERT WITH WHAT THE UNDERLYING
BIOLOGY LOOKS LIKE.
THINK POTENTIALLY HAS A HUGE
IMPACT ON THE BENEFITS THAT YOU
MAY SEE AS A RESULT OF CHANGING
START TIMES.
HAVING SAID THAT I WOULDN'T
DISCOURAGE YOU FROM ANY MOVEMENT
IN THAT DIRECTION.
IN A WAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO
DISRUPT THE COMMUNITY AND FIGHT
THE FIGHT IT MAKES SENSE TO GO
TO A TIME THAT WHERE YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO GET HOPEFULLY THE
LARGEST BENEFIT FOR THE CHANGES
THAT YOU WILL MAKE.
>> RIGHT.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THE
DOCTOR.
THAT -- IT'S ALMOST, YOU KNOW
GOING FROM 7:20 TO 7:45 OR 7:40.
IT WILL HAVE ALL OF THE NEGATIVE
AFFECTS OF THE DISRUPTION AND
THE CHANGE WITHOUT ACTUALLY
YIELDING A POSITIVE BENEFICIAL
EFFECT.
SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
TRY TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE
PRIZE, AS IT WERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS.
THE DISTRICTS GOING THE 15, 20
MINUTES IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM CONCERNS.
IN FAREFAX, VIRGINIA, HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR,
I THINK $900,000 A YEAR IN THE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT.
IT WAS A FANTASTIC AMOUNT.
THE BENEFIT YOU HAVE HERE IN THE
BOSTON CITY SCHOOLS IS THAT YOU
DON'T PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION.
SO, IF ANYTHING --
>> FOR MOST OF OUR SKIDS.
THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS RECEIVE
TRANSPORTATION.
MOST OF OUR STUDENTS DON'T.
>> RIGHT.
>> I MEAN IN TERMS OF THE FLOAT
OF A THOUSAND BUSES THEY HAVE AT
FAIRFAX COUNTY . I DON'T KNOW
THE VEHICLES INVOLVED HERE.
FURTHER MORE I WOULD MAGIC
THEY'RE NOT, ISSUES WITH THE
FLEET WHEN THEY START AT THE
SAME TIME.
IT'S -- WHERE THEY'RE
TRANSPORTING THE GRADE SCHOOL
KIDS.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A
LOGISTICAL BURDEN BUT LESS HERE.
IT MAYBE A BENEFIT AS THE
COUNCILLOR MENTIONED IN TERMS OF
OFFSETTING THE CRUSH OF MANY
OTHER PEOPLE GETTING TO THEIR
JOBS.
>> NOW DR. SIZLER THE MENTIONED
ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES ENDING AT
10:00 O'CLOCK.
 8:00 O'CLOCK.
I THINK THOSE THAT DO WORK END
AFTER 8:00 O'CLOCK.
THIS WOULD SUPPORT AN ARGUMENT
FOR EVEN A LATER START TIME THE
NEXT TKAEUFPLT.
>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU KEEP THE
START TIMES AT 7:00 THEN IN
ORDER TO HAVE AN ELEVEN HOUR
INTERVAL NO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
YOU NEED TO END AT 8:00.
IF YOU WERE TO MOVE THE SCHOOL
TIMES TO 8:30 THEN THAT --
>> BRINGS TO YOU 9:30.
>> YES.
>> SO, WHICH IS SORT OF MORE IN
LINE WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
>> WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE
BEDTIME AND SLEEP TIME.
I SECOND MY KIDS TO BED DOESN'T
MEAN THEY FALL A SLEEP.
WHAT IS THE BED TIME AND SLEEP
TIME FOR TEENAGERS?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS, THERE WAS
A STUDY DONE AND PARENTS WHO
HAVE AT LEAST A SORT OF AN
OFFICIAL BED TIME OF 10:00 P.M.
THE KIDS ARE HIGHER RISK OF
SUICIDALLIZATION IT'S NOT WORLD
WAR 3 ENFORCED AT 10:00 O'CLOCK.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE OTHER
ACTIVITIES.
THERE NEEDS TO BE -- THAT SHOULD
BE A TARGET.
>> 10:00 P.M.
>> YES, THINK THAT'S IDEAL.
>> YES.
I THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT
MANY TEENAGERS HAVE DIFFICULTY
FALLING A SLEEP MUCH BEFORE
11:00.
>>  IF THEY ARE, YOU KNOW THE
LATEST RECOMMENDATION THIS IS
YEAR FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY
OF SLEEP MEDICINE IS THAT
ADOLESCENCE BETWEEN 13-18 GET
8-10 HOURS OF SWHRAOEP A NIGHT.
DO YOU THE MATH AND THEY CAN'T
STALL A SLEEP BEFORE 11, I WILL
SAY THAT IS FURTHER COMPOUNDED
BY EXPOSER TO SCREENS AND
TEXTING AND YOU KNOW ALL KINDS
OF OTHER COMPETING PRIORITIES
FOR SLEEP.
PARTICULARLY THE SCREEN
EXPOSURE.
THAT BLUE LIGHT THAT IS EMITD 
FROM A COMPUTER AND TELEVISION
SCREEN SUPPRESSES THE BODY
RELEASE OF MELATONIN AND MAKES
IT HARD TORE FALL A SLEEP THERE.
ARE ENVIRONMENTAL PIECES TO
THIS.
THOSE AUGMENT THIS UNDERLYING
BIOLOGICAL CHANGE THAT OCCURS AT
PUBERTY.
THEY DO NOT CAUSE IN AND OF
ITSELF TEENAGERS UNABLE TO FALL
A SLEEP.
>> I WILL SAY 10:00 O'CLOCK FOR
MY KIDS AT TEENAGERS.
I WANT TO SAY -- THAT WILL BE
THE END OF IT I WANT TO GET TO
MY COLLEAGUES.
>> I WANT TO REFERENCE WHAT
COUNCILLOR McCARTHY --
MENTIONED.
THE IMPORTANCE IN KEEPING WITH
WHAT DR. OWENS SAID.
GETTING THE GADGETS OUT OF THE
BEDROOMS, TVs.
I THINK THAT PART OF WHAT YOU DO
HERE THERE SHOULD BE A SLEEP
HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM
PROVIDED TO BOTH THE CHILDREN
AND PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN SO
THEY UNDERSTAND.
MANY PARENTS WILL NOT REALIZE
THE IMPORTANCE -- 10% OF PARENTS
WITH A TV IN THE BEDROOM THEY DO
SO TO HELP THE KIDS FALL A
SLEEP.
I BET YOU WEREN'T -- IN TERMS OF
PARENTS MY PARENTS WERE LIKE WHY
DID I GET A SLOPE DOCTOR FOR A
FATHER.
>> COUNCILLOR OWE MALE .
>> THANK YOU, MY FIRST QUESTION
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
WE HAVE THREE EXPERTS AND WILL
ASK ANYWAYS.
WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT
OF SLEEP FOR A HEALTHY ADULT.
>> 7-9 HOURS.
>> 7 SEEMS TO BE THE BREAK
POINT.
IF YOU HABITUALLY GET LESS THAN
THAT, YOU OPEN YOURSELF UP TO
COGNITIVE ISSUES.
>> WHEN WE SAY 7-9 OR 7-10.
UNFORTUNATELY INDIVIDUALS DON'T
GET TO CHOOSE AND SAY I HAVE
TIME FOR 1.
THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
IN THE NEED OF SLEEP.
NOW NEEDLESS THAN 7.
SOME NEED 8.
SOME NEED 9.
>> MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES,
VIRTUALLY RIP AT COMMUNITY
MEETINGS LATE AND UP EARLY AT
KAY COMMUNITY MEETING.
I WILL QUOTE THIS GETTING OUT
EARLY.
>> THE ELEVEN HOUR INTERVAL.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, ALL THIS.
IS VERY INFORMATIVE
PRESENTATION.
THE THIRD PART, THE SLIDES ON
THE OUTCOME ARE REMARKABLE.
YOU KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THIS MORE A MATTER OF MONTHS
NOW.
IT SEEMS TO ME PARENTS HAVE --
MOST PARENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT
THIS.
SOME BRING LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.
THINK YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD.
A ROW BEST COMMUNICATION
PROCESS.
I HEAR THIS IS GREAT.
WE NEED TO DO THIS.
OR THE OTHER HAND WHAT ABOUT
SCHOOL SPORTS AND AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES AND WORK.
IT DOES SEEM TO ME IF WE COULD
HAVE A CONSISTENT MODEL ACROSS
THE BOARD.
AT 8:30 OR LATER WE WOULD NOT
ONLY ALLOW FOR AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES, JOBS, SPORTS, HE CAN
SET RARBGS WE WOULD ALSO HAVE
THESE REALLY REMARKABLE OUT
COMES.
ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT SAT
SCORES GO UP AN AVERAGE OF 200
POINTS.
THAT'S REMARKABLE.
UTTERLY REMARKABLE.
TOP TEN OF STUDENTS INCREASE
MORE THAN TO 0 POINTS.
EVERYTHING UNDERSTAND SCORES THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
ONE THING YOU MAY OF HEARD AND
WHAT THE MAYOR IS TACKLING THE
DIFFERENT MODELS.
THE 27 OR 28 DIFFERENT MODELS OF
SCHOOL.
THE FACT WE HAVE SO MANY
DIFFERENT START TIMES IS THIS
SOMETHING THAT CAME UP IN YOUR
RESEARCH.
LIKE THE CHANGE, DID THEY HAVE A
SIMILAR QUIRK OF DIFFERENT
SCHOOLS, START TIMES OR ALL HIGH
SCHOOLS?
>> -- UNUSUAL WITH THIS VARIETY.
MOST HAVE A BELL TIME THE SAME
ACROSS THE ENTIRE --
>> THAT'S BECAUSE OF THIS TIERED
SYSTEM IN MANY COMMUNITIES.
YOU DROP OFF A GROUP OF KIDS
BEFORE PICKING UP ANOTHER.
IN THE TIER ALL OF THE SCHOOLS
HAVE TO START AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT HERE AS
MUCH.
PROBABLY EVOLVED OVERTIME IN A
WAY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN OTHER
PLACES.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT BOLSTERED
OUR ARGUMENT OF A UNIFORMED HIGH
SCHOOL TIME IS LESS OF A -- MORE
ACHIEVABLE GIVEN THE AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM AND SPORT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF BOSTON, THE OLDEST
SCHOOL, IN THE DUAL COUNTY
LEAGUE, MOST PLAY EACH OTHER THE
SPORTING EVENT, LOSING OUT ON
OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY OTHERS
WOULD BE LESS OF A CONCERN.
>> COUNCILLOR O'MALLEY ON REGARD
TO THE BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL A
NUMBER OF TOWNS IN THEIR SCHOOL
LEAGUE ARE HAVE CHAPTERS
STARTING SCHOOL LATER.
THE PEOPLE HEADING THOSE TOWN
CHAPTERS ARE ALL TRYING TO GET
TOGETHER TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET
THEIR ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TO DO
WHAT MIDDLESEX DID.
>> THAT'S A EXCELLENT POINT.
THANK YOU, MARY.
>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN COUNT
LESS DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
COMMONWEALTH AND THE COUNTRY
THAT HAVE DONE THIS.
I THINK THIS IS AN AREA WHERE
BOSTON LAGS BEHIND A BIT IN
TERMS OF THE AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES.
IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.
WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND THE GOOD
OF THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE
QUICK ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
ONE IS A ISSUE.
A LOT OF STUDENTS THINK SLEEPING
LATER ON THE WEEKEND THEY
COMPENSATE FOR THE CHRONIC SLEEP
LOSS THEY EXPERIENCE DURING THE
WEEK.
IN FACT THAT MAKES THE SITUATION
WORST IT HAS RESULTED IN A
PHENOMENON WE CALL SOCIAL JET
LAG.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH L. BED
TIMES AND WAKE TIMES LATER ON
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT.
COME SUNDAY NIGHT THEY'RE NOT
AWAKE LONG ENOUGH TO FALL A
SLEEP.
IT'S LIKE FLYING FROM BOSTON TO
LA EVERY WEEKEND.
IT TAKES ONE DAY TO CROSS TIME
ZONES.
IT'S HARDER TO COME IN THE
EASTWARD DIRECTION.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE
WITH JET LAG.
THAT'S WHAT THE KIDS ARE LIVING
UNDER.
EVEN FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE
NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE EXTRA
CIRCULAR ACTIVITIES AND JOBS
THERE IS A FEDERAL BILL IN CON
DEPRESS CALLED THE Zs TO As
ACT.
SUPPORTED FROM A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM CALIFORNIA.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY FRAMED AS AN
ANTI TEEN AND CRIME PREGNANCY
BILL.
THE IDEA WAS THE KIDS WERE HOME
FROM SCHOOL SO EARLY THAT THE
INTERVAL BETWEEN GETTING HOME
FROM SCHOOL AND PARENTS HOME
FROM WORK IS A TIME THEY COULD
GET INTO TROUBLE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
NOT ONLY WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN
THE MORNING BUT BENEFITS TO
ENDING LATER AS WELL.
>> YES.
THEY'RE ON THE NEXT PANEL.
WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GET
HOME SO THEY CAN GO TO SLEEP.
>> APPARENTLY THEY HAVE TO GO TO
SLEEP IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR
SOMEWHERE.
>> YOU ANSWERED A LOT OF
QUESTIONS I HAD REGARDING THE
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, START SCHOOL
LATER PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE 57,000 STUDENTS HERE.
MOST OF THEM ARE ON BUSES.
I'M SURE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS
LATER.
YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT
CATCHING UP ON THE WEEKEND.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
IT IS WHAT I HAVE.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE TALKED
ABOUT IS THE LATER START TIMES,
IF SCHOOL STARTS AT 8:15.
WE TALK ABOUT SPORTS BUT THERE
IS THEATER, ARTS, MUSIC.
A LOT OF THINGS.
>>  IF THEY'RE NOT STARTING
PRACTICE UNTIL 4:30.
THAT'S GOING TO 6:30.
NOW BY THE TIME IT'S 7:30 WHEN
THEY'RE HOME.
YOU EAT AT 7:30 THEN YOU HAVE
TWO TO THREE HOURS OF HOMEWORK
IF THEY'RE ON TOP OF THE BALL
GAME.
NOW THAT'S BACK TO
11:00 O'CLOCK, 10:30 OR 11
KHR +*BGS ANYWAYS.
WHEN MIKE SAID EARLY TO BED,
EARLY TO RISE.
I WAS LAUGHING.
MY DAD USE TO POUND THAT IN OUR
HEADS.
WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THE
HOMEWORK YOU HAVE A BOWL OF ICE
CREAM OR GLASS OF MILK, DID YOU
TO BED THAT'S THE END OF.
THAT WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF YOU
GET UP AND OFF YOU WENT.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE ONE
COMPARISON CHART THAT COUNCILLOR
O'MALLEY REFERENCED.
IT'S INTERESTING DATA. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE BALANCE IS BETWEEN
COMPARING THAT FOR HOME LIFE
VERSUS SIMPLY SLEEP DEPRIVATION.
THERE IS A LOT.
PHYSICAL FIGHT, SMOKING,
MARIJUANA, SEXUALLY ACTIVE, SAD,
HOPELESS, CREDITING SUICIDE.
I'M TIRED A LOT, IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN A LOT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN CLARIFY
THAT CHART AND WHERE IT CAME
FROM.
WHAT WAS THE DATA POINTS THAT
YOU USED.
SOME OF THEM ARE -- THE NUMBERS
ARE ENORMOUS.
>> YES.
I MEAN MOST OF THE STUDIES
LOOKING AT THESE RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND
RISK BEHAVIOR HAVE TO DO WITH
NOT NECESSARILY HOME ENVIRONMENT
BUT SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS,
LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES OF RACIAL
AND ETHNIC STATUS.
A LOT OF THE POTENTIAL CON
FOUNDING VARIABLES ARE TAKEN
INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE
STUDIES.
DESPITE CONTROLLING FOR THOSE
THEY SEE THESE RELATIONSHIPS.
IF THAT HELPS WITH THE QUESTION.
>> YES.
THERE IS A CONSIDERING FOR OTHER
THINGS.
I WILL SAY, DOCTOR, I MADE THE
POINT EARLIER.
YOU EMPHASIZED IT.
MY WIFE IS A SCHOOL TEACHER.
THERE ARE KIDS FALLING A SLEEP
IN THE CLASSROOM.
SHE WILL ASK WHAT WERE YOU DOING
LAST NIGHT?
I FACE CHATTED UNTIL TWO OR
THREE.
THIS IS A BIG PARENTING ISSUE.
I HAVE ONE IN COLLEGE, ONE IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M SURE IN COLLEGE HE HAS HIS
PHONE NOW.
HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE A
PHONE.
WE HAD ONE AREA IN THE HALLWAY
WHERE THE PHONES AND LAP TOPS
WERE.
THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE
ROOMS.
I FIND MYSELF FLIPPING THROUGH
MY SMART PHONE AT NIGHT WHEN I'M
READY TO GO TO BED, CATCHING UP
ON E-MAILS.
I KNOW IF I'M DOING IT I'M NOT
GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
POINT.
WE SHOW THAT WITH THE PARENTS
DOING IT THE KIDS ARE DOING IT.
HAVING, MODELING.
>> THE RULES ARE IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY THE EDUCATION
COMPONENT IS SO CRITICAL.
TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, STARTING
PRACTICES AT 4:30 AND THEN STILL
BEING ABLE TO GET THEIR -- DOES
THAT MEAN THEY ARE UP TO
10:00 OR 10:30 GETTING WORK
DONE.
YES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BED
ANY EARLIER NOW AS IT IS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY GET OUT AT
3:30.
THE STUDIES SHOW WHEN THE START
TIMES ARE DELAYED IF ANYTHING
DOES THE SLEEP TIME GO UP BUT
GOES UP BY MORE THAN THE SCHOOL
START TIMES WERE DELAYS.
IT DOESN'T RESULT IN A REDUCTION
OF THE SLEEP.
>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE SLEEP
DEPRIVED THEY SACRIFICE
ACCURACY.
THEY GET THE RIGHT ANSWER
EVENTUALLY BUT IT TAKES LONG
TORE GET THERE.
MEDICAL RESIDENTS ARE WELL
STUDIES FOR.
THAT YOU'RE EFFICIENT IN YOUR
THINKING.
SO, IT MAY BE THAT THREE HOURS
OF HOMEWORK TAKES FOUR HOURS TO
COMPLETE UNDER CONDITIONS OF
CHRONIC SLEEP LOSS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION THAT THEY MAY BE
MORE EFFICIENT STUDENTS BUT
THEY'RE WELL SLEPT.
>> MY LAST QUESTION IS JUST ON
THE -- YOUR EXPERT IN SLEEP, GET
INTO THAT WHOLE BLUE SCREEN
THING, I'VE HEARD A BOUT IT.
WHAT EXACTLY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW
WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, IF YOU
JUST SIT ON A BENCH OUT IN
THANNIAL HALL, EVERYBODY'S HEAD
IS DOWN IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD.
DRIVES ME CRAZY PEOPLE WALKING
OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC NOT
PAYING ATTENTION, I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S SLEEP, THIS HAS BECOME
LIKE -- YOU'RE ADDICTED TO IT.
 WE.
>>   WE HAVE SPECIALIZED PHOTO
RECEPTORS IN THE RETINA THAT ARE
NOT THE RODS AND CONES THAT
DURING EVOLUTION CAME FROM 
WHEN -- FROM MARINE ORGANISMS,
MOST SENSITIVE TO THE LIGHT THAT
MARINE ORGANISMS ARE EXPOSED TO
WHICH IS BLUE LIGHT, IN THE BLUE
OCEANS.
UNDER THE BLUE SKY.
IT'S A SPECIALIZED PHOTO
RECEPTOR THAT'S IN GANGLION
CELLS, IT'S GOT A SPECIALIZED
FILAMENT, INSTEAD OF THE RED,
GREEN, BLUE CONES BUT IS
ACTUALLY -- IT IS MOST SENSITIVE
TO THIS 460 TO 480 THAN METERS
THIS ENRICHED LIGHT.
IRONICALLY THE REASON WHY THE
NOBEL PRIZE WAS AWARDED COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE BLUE L.E.D., BECAUSE
PRIOR TO THAT WHEN I WAS IN
COLLEGE ONLY L.E.D.S WERE RED
AND GREEN THEY WERE USED TO --
SEE IF YOUR STEREO WAS ON.
BECAUSE NOBODY COULD MAKE WHITE
LIGHT.
ONLY THE DISCOVERY OF HOW TO
MAKE A BLUE L.E.D. THAT
REVOLUTIONIZED THIS, MADE IT
POSSIBLE TO CREATE WHITE LIGHT
FROM L.E.D.S WHICH ARE MUCH MORE
ENERGY EFFICIENT.
ONLY THING IS THAT IN THESE --
THAT'S WHAT'S POWERING OUR
SCREENS ON OUR LAPTOPS AND CELL
PHONES AND TABLETS.
THAT IS DIRECTLY RESETTING THE
INTERNAL CLOCK MUCH MORE
EFFECTIVELY THAT WE USED TO GET
FROM INCANDESCENT LIGHTS.
BECAUSE IT IS SO BLUE AROUND
RICH.
THERE ARE THINGS -- SO, AFTER WE
DID THIS -- SHOWED THAT READING
FROM AN iPAD, SUPPRESSES AND
MAKES IT HARDER TO GET UP IN THE
MORNING, APPLE NOW COME OUT WITH
SOFTWARE IN THEIR NEW iPHONES
CALLED A NIGHT SHIFT, WHICH YOU
CAN ENGAGE AND THERE'S ALSO
SOMETHING FOR ANDROID, THAT
REDUCES THE BLUE RICH LIGHT IN
YOUR PHONE AFTER DUSK SO YOU CAN
SET IT BETWEEN SUNSET AND
SUNRISE TO DECREASE THE BLUE
WAVE LENGTHS IN THOSE PHONES.
AND YOU CAN ALSO SET AN
APPROPRIATE INTERVAL FOR YOU --
TO REMIND YOU TO GO TO BED SO
YOU CAN SET BEDTIME ALARM
INSTEAD OF JUST THE WAKE TIME
ALARM.
>> I WILL LOOK UP THE NIGHT
SHIFT PHONE APP.
>> COUNCILOR --
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I HAD 6:00 A.M. HOCKEY GAME --
JUST COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS
BECAUSE I NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE
PANEL.
IN JURISDICTIONS CHANGING SCHOOL
START TIMES ARE THEY CHANGING
YOUTH SPORT TIMES, CIVIL SERVICE
EXAM TIMES, ALLOTTED OF WHAT WE
DO AROUND HERE AROUND SCHOOL
SCHEDULE BUT ALSO PARTICULARLY
WEEKENDS WITH YOUTH SPORTS AND
STANDARDIZED TESTS WHETHER IT'S
THE S.A.T., CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS
HERE.
EVERYTHING IS FIRST THING IN THE
MORNING.
>> SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT,
COUNCILOR.
WE START SCHOOL LATER, HAVE BEEN
TALKING WITH THE ORGANIZATION
THAT RUN THE S.A.T. AND ACT
EXAMS, IT IS REALLY KIND OF
SILLY, BUT THESE KIDS THEY'RE
TRYING TO TAKE SUCH LIFE
CHANGING EXAMS AT O-DARK-30 ON
SATURDAY MORNING.
WE'RE TRYING.
>> WE ACTUALLY GOT THE COLLEGE
BOARD TO GIVE US LIKE 20 YEARS
OF READING EXAMS, READING
COMPREHENSION EXAMS, THAT THEY
WERE NO LONGER USING AND WE
ADMINISTERED THEM IN VOLUNTEERS,
ALL DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY.
AND 8:00 A.M. IS THE ABSOLUTE
WORST PERFORMANCE OUT OF ALL THE
STUDIES, IT'S ABOUT 20% DECREASE
IN THEIR PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF -- ALERTNESS AND PERFORMANCE.
EVEN ABILITY TO REMEMBER WHAT
WAS IN THE PATSAGE WAS DEGRADED.
>> YOU TOUCHED ON IT, MAYBE
OBSTACLE, EVERY KID IS
DIFFERENT, EVERY SITUATION IS
DIFFERENT.
MY HOUSEHOLD MY TWO TWO OLDEST
HAD THEM OUT OF BED, IF YOU
CHASE THEM MAKE SURE THEY WERE
GETTING SOMETHING TO EAT AND
BRUSHING THEIR TEETH.
MY TWO YOUNGEST, TWINS, THEY GET
THEMSELVES UP, INSIST ON GETTING
TO SCHOOL AN HOUR BEFORE SCHOOL
STARTS THAT'S JUST THE WAY
THEY'RE WIRED.
YOU GO THROUGH, EYE JUST GIVE
YOU EXAMPLE OF MY -- WE -- NOW
FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE WITH 8:00
A.M. MONDAY MORNING STATISTICS
CLASS.
SO, I GUESS THE QUESTION WHEN
YOU TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL
TO COLLEGE, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
RUDE AWAKENING IF YOU START
SCHOOL MUCH LATER NOW IT'S A
SINK OR SWIM ENVIRONMENT AT THE
COLLEGE LEVEL YOU GET 8:00 A.M.
CLASSES, YOU NOTICED ANY SORT OF
ISSUES WITH HIGH SCHOOLERS NOW
TRANSITIONING INTO COLLEGE AND
START TIMES COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
AS WELL AS PROBABLY, I AM
ASSUMING, IT WAS FOR ME IN
COLLEGES, LESS SLEEP TIME EARLY
ON.
>> THE STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM,
TRY TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO
AVOID THOSE VERY EARLY MORNING
--
>> IT'S A CORE REQUIREMENT.
HE WOULD HAVE --
>> SOME SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN HAVE
COURSES THAT START BEFORE 9:00.
BUT I THINK IT'S AGAIN,
SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO
WORK WITH COLLEGES AS WELL,
WE'VE JUST CREATED, THANKS TO A
GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE SNYDER
FAMILY FOUNDATION, CREATED SLEEP
101 FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WE'RE
STARTING TO WORK WHO W COLLEGES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO TRY TO
CHANGE THE START TIMES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
 SO MUCH.
I GUESS A QUESTION OTHER THAN,
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT -- IS THAT
AFFECTING IN TERMS OF HOW LONG
THE SCHOOL DAY.
ONE OF THE THEORIES HAS BEEN,
MOVE THE SCHOOL DAYS TO THE SAME
AS WORK DAYS BUT AROUND THE SAME
TIMEFRAME AS WELL AS LENGTH, ANY
DATA AROUND THE LENGTH OF SCHOOL
DAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE POPULAR WITH
THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE ROOM
WITH THAT QUESTION.
>> THERE IS A HUGE EFFORT, I
THINK IN THE LAST YEARS, 4
BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT ON WORK
TO TRY TO EXPEND THE SCHOOL DAY.
MUCH MORE WELL OILED OPERATION
THAN START LATER ACTIVITIES.
SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN SUGGESTING
THAT THE SCHOOL DAY SHOULD BE
EXPANDED ON BOTH ENDS.
WE WOULD VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE
WITH THE NOTION OF STARTING
EARLIER.
A LOT OF THE MOTIVATION FOR
STARTING -- ENDING LATER BESIDES
HAVING MORE TIME FOR INSTRUCTION
IS ACTUALLY INTEGRATE SUPPORTING
ACTIVITIES AND SO ON WITHIN THAT
TIMEFRAME.
I REMEMBER WHEN FORMER GOVERNOR
PAT FRICK CAME, EXTENDING THE
SCHOOL DAY, HE WAS GETTING A LOT
OF BLOW BACK FROM THE STUDENTS,
I STOOD UP SAID WE SHOULD START
LATER, THE WHOLE PLACE ERUPTED
IN CHEERS.
HE SAID, JUROR JUST TALKING TO
THE CROWD I DON'T THINK IT
SHOULD BE EXTENDED IN THE
STARTING EARLIER DIRECTION.
>> THE THING THAT I WOULD JUST
NOTE THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST
OBJECTIVES THAT WE HAVE IN
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
WITH THE DATA THAT YOU LAID OUT
IN TERMS OF ACTUAL OUTCOMES, I
HAVEN'T SEEN TOO MANY OTHER
LEVERS OR SWITCHES THAT HAD THAT
TYPE OF EPINEPHRINE, EVEN THOUGH
IT COSTS MORE NOW, IF TYPE OF --
THAT YOU WOULD SEE.
ONE OF THE OTHER PIECES, I SEE
ON BOTTOM HERE IT SAYS AFFECTS
EARLIER CLASSES.
SOME OF THE WORST TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS ARE -- THEY ARE GOING
FURTHEST, THEY HAVE A TOUGHER
TIME GETTING TO SCHOOLS SO THERE
IS A DISPARITY THERE, ALSO A
DISPARITY IN HOW FOLKS ARE
DOING.
I WANT TO THANK THE
MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF STAR
SCHOOL LATER, BECAUSE YOU ALSO
BRING UP THAT OTHER DISTRICTS
THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE OUR
DISTRICT, ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
MOVING TOWARDS THIS, THAT URBAN
DISTRICT ARE NOT.
SO, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GPAs,
ALSO THAT THERE IS A GREAT
DISPARITY THAT DISADVANTAGED
KIDS DO ACTUALLY BETTER IN THE
SPACE.
THAT'S A GOOD DISPARITY TO HAVE
ON THE TABLE.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY, VERY
ENCOURAGED BY THE PASSION, BUT
ALSO BY THE SCIENCE AND DATA
THAT GO -- THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD
BE ORIENTED BY.
WE CAN DEAL WITH THE OBSTACLES
AND GOVERNMENT WE DEAL WITH AND
TWEAK OBSTACLES ON REGULAR BASIS
BUT OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE, LET'S
DO THE SMARTEST THING FOR THE
LARGEST GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE
AND TO INSTITUTE POLICY THAT
ACTUALLY HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SHOW ME SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN
GET 200-POINT INCREASE IN S.A.T.
WE'D BE JUMPING AT IT IN A
SECOND.
I THINK SOMETHING AS NOTED WE
WILL DEFINITELY BE PUSHING
FORWARD WITH WORKING GROUPS TO
ADVANCE, I BELIEVE THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL -- THANK YOU
FOR COMING TODAY.
I'M GO TO CALL OUR NEXT EXPERT
PANEL.
WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE
BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
CAN WE DO THAT?
JOHN HAMLIN CHIEF OF OPERATIONS
FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
MONICA ROBERTS, CHIEF OF
ENGAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT AND
PARTNERSHIPS FOR BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
MONICA THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU
GOT -- DIDN'T GET A RAISE JUST
GOT MORE TITLES, THAT'S NORMALLY
HOW IT WORKS IN GOVERNMENT WHEN
WE GIVE YOU MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD.
YOU CAN START WITH YOUR
TESTIMONY.
>> JOHN, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS OF
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> MONICA ROBERTS ASSISTANT
SUPERINTENDENT OF ENGAGEMENT FOR
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> I GAVE YOU DEMOTION,
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
>> A SHORT TITLE.
WE DO NOT HAVE A FORMAL
PRESENTATION PREPARED TODAY WE
WERE ASKED TO ATTEND THE HEARING
IN ORDER TO SPEAK TO THIS TO
DISCUSS OPTION, IS THAT BPS AND
TAKE PART IN THE WORKING
SESSION.
I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY.
AND REFERENCE SOME THOUGHTS
THAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT
AROUND HIGH SCHOOL START TIME
CHANGES.
WE'VE BEEN MIND.
OF THIS DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST
YEAR-PLUS, SEEN SOME OF THE
PRESENTATION NOT JUST TODAY BUT
I THANK THE PANEL FOR COMING AND
SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS BUT ALSO
PRESENTATIONS THAT SOME OF THEM
INCLUDING DR. OWENS DID LAST
YEAR.
OPEN TO THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS
THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE TO
BRING TO THE WORKING SESSION.
>> FIRST, HAVE YOU DONE ANY
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ON ANY OF THE
POTENTIAL -- ONE OF THE THINGS I
DISAGREED WITH IS THE
TRANSPORTATION COMPONENT BUT WE
DO NOT HAVE A BUS FOR 7th --
FOR 8th GRADERS.
THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU SEE
POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT ON
MAKING THIS.
>> UNCLEAR YET AS TO WHAT THAT
FINANCIAL IMPACT MIGHT BE.
IT'S NOT ACCURATE TO SAY THAT WE
DON'T PROVIDE BUSING FOR ANY
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT AS WELL AND
COUNCILOR ROB POINTED OUT BEFORE
THAT, OUR LARGE MAJORITY ARE
RECEIVING BUS SERVICE, IN FACT
HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE
DISTRICT, THERE ARE 576 TRIPS A
DAY THAT'S COMBINED BETWEEN A.M.
AND P.M. IT'S MORE SIGNIFICANT
PEOPLE WOULD THINK EVEN THOUGH
BY AND LARGE THE VAST MAJORITY
OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE
TRANSPORTED.
>> COUNCILOR?
I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, JOHN,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MONICA, AS
WELL.
SORT OF IN GENERAL ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS A CITY, AS
A DEPARTMENT IS THAT WE HESITATE
TO DO IT FOR SO LONG.
IT WOULD BE DRAMATIC CHANGE,
EMOTIONAL CHANGE AS WELL AS
LOGISTICAL CHANGE.
IF YOU CAN SHARE WITH US SOME OF
OUR INITIAL THOUGHTS, I
UNDERSTAND IT'S INITIAL, ABOUT
WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO
TRANSPORTATION.
>> CERTAINLY TRANSPORTATION IS
PART OF IT OF SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
ALSO IN TALKS WITH ATHLETICS
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT A
BELL-TIME CHANGE OF HIGH SCHOOLS
WOULDN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE
HIGH SCHOOLS' SPORTS SCHEDULE.
WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR
NOT ANY ILL AFFECT.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE ITEMS THAT
WERE EXPLORING RIGHT NOW WHILE
ALSO WEIGHING THE SEEMINGLY
POSITIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE PANEL
YOU PRESENTED LATER START TIME
BEING GOOD FOR STUDENT HEALTH
AND WELLNESS.
ALSO POTENTIALLY EVEN SCHOOL
PERFORMANCE.
>> I IMAGINE MASH MASH MONICA,
JUMP IN.
NEED TO BE SOME COLLABORATION
WITH THE T BECAUSE MOST OF OUR
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THEY USE
MBTA TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL
WHAT SORT OF IMPACT ON THAT T
SYSTEM WE H WE KNOW IS UNDER
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AS
IT IS.
>> RIGHT.
COUNCILOR O'MALLEY MADE THIS
POINT EARLIER ON, I BELIEVE, ONE
THING THAT WOULD BE A BIT OF
CONCERN IF WE WERE TO MOVE HIGH
SCHOOL STARTS TO 8:30, WHICH IS
ALREADY THE HEAVIEST TIER, SO TO
SPEAK WITH REGARD TO NUMBER OF
SCHOOLS, IF WE MOVED TO 8:30
MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS TAKING
THE T ARE RIGHT INTO THE BUSIEST
TIME PERIOD FOR MBTA WE WOULD
NEED TO TALK TO THE T ABOUT WHAT
IMPLICATIONS THAT MIGHT BE FOR
THEM.
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE
COMMUTE TIME IS FOR OUR STUDENTS
AS IT IS RIGHT NOW?
>> NOT SOMETHING THAT I KNOW.
WE COULD FIND OUT.
>> I THINK IT VARIES.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT MAY BE
COMING -- THEY IT WIDELY VARIES.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE
INTERESTING INFORMATION SORT OF
THE AVERAGE LENGTH THEN MAIN
SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE LONGEST
LENGTHS OF TIME THAT OUR
STUDENTS ARE TRAVELING TO GET
FROM HOME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
>> JUST WANT TO JUMP IN, THE
DATA ANALYSIS WHEN FROM WAS A
VOTE, WHEN WE TOOK UP 6th,
7th, 8th GRADE
TRANSPORTATION THERE WAS
ANALYSIS ON THE RECORD AROUND
THE DISTANCE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE
TRAVEL.
THE ROUTES THAT THEY TAKE AND
THE PEAK TIME AND EVEN WHETHER
OR NOT THE BUSES WERE GOING TO
BE FULL.
A GREAT DEAL OF ROBUST
INFORMATION IN THAT SPACE FOR
YOU.
THAT WAS COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT
I'M SURE THAT WOULD BE GREAT
PLACE TO START.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BETH FOR BEING HERE
TODAY I DO THINK IT WAS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
BE HERE THE PROFESSIONALS SPOKE
TO US, SO THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILOR O'MALLEY?
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES
MENTIONED THE BILL RICHARDS
ALMANAC, EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO
RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY,
WEALTHY AND WISE.
IT WAS COINED BY BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN WHO DROPPED OUT OF THE
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PERHAPS
BECAUSE IT STARTED TOO EARLY.
SORRY, COUNCILOR LEFT.
IT'S OFTEN HARD TO DO THINGS IN
THIS BUILDING, SO, THIS WILL BE
AN ADJUSTMENT BUT AGAIN I THINK
THAT THERE IS CONCLUSIVE
EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS WORTH OUR
UNDERTAKING.
HOW MANY -- I HAVE THE NUMBERS
SOMEWHERE,
 HOW MANY DIFFERENT
START TIMES FOR THE HIGH
SCHOOLS?
>> I BELIEVE THERE ARE LIKE 12.
ALMOST -- SOME START BEFORE
7:30.
EARLY START TIME IS MAJORITY OF
OUR SCHOOLS.
>> HOW MANY I'LL SCHOOLS ARE
THERE?
>> 37 TOTAL THAT GO UP TO THE
12th GRADE THAT INCLUDES ALL
PROGRAMS INCLUDING ALTERNATIVE.
>> FAIR ENOUGH.
12 DIFFERENT.
AT A MINIMUM WHAT WOULD BE
THE -- THE EARLIEST IS 7:20.
HALF START BEFORE 7:30.
LATEST IS --
>> 9:30.
TO CHANGE THEM ALL TO --
I'LL LET JOHN TALK ABOUT
OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT FROM THE
ENGAGEMENT OF FAMILIES WE NEED
TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT
THAT.
ARE THEY REALLY EDUCATING -- THE
NEED, CRITICAL PART OF THE STOP
SPOT.
>> WHAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN FOR
EVERY HIGH SCHOOL TO START AT 
8:30?
>> THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT
MUCH THAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN
IN ORDER TO DO IT.
WE HAVE TO ASSESS WHAT THE
FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE IF IT
WOULD BE MORE COST -- IF WE WERE
TO MOVE TO 8:30 FOR ALL SCHOOLS.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION,
COUNCILOR, MAKE IT MORE UNIFORM
ACROSS THE DISTRICT FOR ALL
SCHOOLS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ONE THING THAT I THINK IS
WORTH NOTING THAT EVEN THOUGH
THERE MIGHT BE 12 DIFFERENT
START TIMES FOR HIGH SCHOOLS,
THE DAY LENGTHS VARY A LITTLE
BIT AS WELL.
MANY OF THE SCHOOLS ARE WITHIN
VERY SMALL RANGE OF TIMES.
JUST BETWEEN SAY 7:IS 15 AND
7:30 ALONE YOU HAVE THREE
DIFFERENT OR FOUR DIFFERENT
START TIMES THAT -- HALF OF THE
HIGH SCHOOLS THAT'S ALL WITHIN
COMPRESSED TIME PERIOD.
MAKING START TIME MORE UNIFORM
IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT
WOULD BE DESIROUS OF, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY BE ALL, END ALL IF
THOSE VARIATIONS IN START TIME
ARE SLIGHT, YOU SEE WHAT I'M
SAYING.
ASSESS FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THAT
I BELIEVE THEN PUT SOMETHING IN
FRONT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS MOVE WOULD
BE VOTED ON OR AGREED TO.
SOCIALIZE THOSE SCHOOL LEADERS
IN PARTICULAR, THEN HAVE TO
BUILD OUT THE BUS ROUTE WITH
THOSE NEW TIMES IN MIND SO THAT
ALL BUSES ARE GOING AT THE RIGHT
TIMES, ALL THE FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN ON THOSE BUSES ARE
NOTIFIED OF THESE TIME CHANGES.
THOSE ARE THE MAJOR OPERATIONAL
THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE TO UN
UNFOLD.
>> COULD THIS CONCEIVABLY BE IN
THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR?
>> IT COULD.
THAT WOULD BE AMBITIOUS.
THAT WOULD ALLOW ENOUGH TIME.
>> THE EARLIEST START IS 7:20,
WHAT TIME WOULD THAT SCHOOL DAY
END APPROXIMATELY.
I KNOW THERE WOULD BE DIFFERENT
SCHOOLS HAVE DIFFERENT LENGTHS
OF DAY.
1:30 END TIME?
>> 1:40.
THEN 9:30 A.M. START TIME.
3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> ABOUT, YES.
WHAT'S THE 9:30 SCHOOL START
TIME?
>> THE START TIME OR --
WHICH SCHOOL -- WHICH SCHOOLS
START AT CONTRACT 30.
>> ONE OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION
SCHOOLS.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD WANT TO
ADD THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR
STUDENTS WHO GO TO EVENING
ACADEMY WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT
FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO -- THEY HAVE CHILDREN OR
OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO BE
THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
>> I WOULDN'T SUGGEST THAT WE
CHANGE BOSTON EVENING ACADEMY OR
OTHER ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT SORT OF THE MAJORITY OF OUR
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
WE NEED TO ASSESS WHAT THE
FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE.
WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE THREE
LEGS OF THE SCHOOL,
TRANSPORTATION, ATHLETICS --
AFTER SCHOOL ATHLETICS, YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT, CLUBS, CONDUCT
AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH TO SCHOOL
LEADERS AND PARENTS.
IN YOUR OPINION IS THERE ANY
REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T PURSUE
THIS?
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY RIGHT NOW
WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE DATA ALL
THE OTHER --
>> I DON'T NEED TO PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT FOR ME I GUESS THIS IS
SOMETHING WORTHWHILE.
AGAIN -- WHAT ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES.
I DON'T SEE THAT -- AFTER
SCHOOL, I DON'T SEE THAT AS
BEING IMPACTED AS MANY PEOPLE
MAY HAVE -- THAT WE CAN ADDRESS
THAT ALL AT THE SAME TIME
PROVIDING SUPPORTS FOR OUR KIDS
BY GIVING THEM THAT LATER START
TIME.
I THINK DATA SPEAKS TO ITSELF.
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET
BEHIND IN MY OPINION.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIR.
>> IF I MIGHT.
JUST DETERMINE SOMETHING
BRIEFLY.
WHAT WE'D BE EXPLORING WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY STICK WITH WHERE
WE'RE AT OR MOVING ONLY TO 8:00
A.M. OR EXPLORING ALL POTENTIAL
START TIME OPTION.
WHAT WOULD THE 9:30 START TIME
LOOK LIKE.
CONTINUE TO LOOK LIKE IF THEY
WERE --
>> EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS THERE.
COUNCILOR LaMATTINA.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK
QUESTION.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE
PROFESSIONALS REALLY WE SHOULD
DO LATER TIMES.
BUT THE FINANCIAL COST, DO WE
HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THIS WITH THE
UNION?
>> WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE
THE START TIMES.
HAVE TO PAY TEACHERS MORE MONEY.
THE SUPERINTENDENT?
>> I DO BELIEVE INDIVIDUAL
SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE A ROLE IN THE
CHANGING OF THE SCHOOL'S TIME.
I ALSO THINK THAT FACULTY SENATE
MAY ALSO PLAY A ROLE.
>> I'M SORRY.
TALKING TO THE OPERATIONS CHIEF,
I WAS THINKING ABOUT OPERATIONS
UNION, I CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE
BOSTON TEACHERS UNION, IT WOULD
BE CHANGE IN WORKING CONDITIONS
FOR TEACHERS I WOULD IMAGINE
THAT MAY REQUIRE NEGOTIATIONS, I
CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
>> MY ONLY CASE WOULD BE IN
TERMS OF CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT
GAP WHICH IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY
ISSUES, ARE THERE OTHER THINGS
THAT WE KNOW OF THAT KNIFE OUT
OF SIX SCHOOLS SHOWED
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN GPA, IN
ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL
STUDIES, DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.
OR ADD 200 POINTS TO S.A.T.s,
ANY OTHER -- IF THERE ARE I WANT
TO CONSIDER THOSE.
THE COMPELLING DATA HERE IS THAT
THIS IS TRANSFORMATIVE.
IN PARTICULAR IN A PLACE WHERE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS REAL, ALL
URBAN DISTRICTS, SOUNDS LIKE
URBAN DISTRICTS ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE LESS LIKELY TO DO THIS.
I WOULD JUST PUSH THAT WE LEAD
AND NOT FOLLOW IN THIS SPACE.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SOME REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE
THINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED
IT.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR
O'MALLEY'S URGENCY, JUST AS
DOCTOR SAID YOU CAN'T GO BACK
CATCH UP ON SLEEP, IT DOESN'T
WORK THAT WAY.
WE CAN'T CATCH UP ON PERSON'S
EDUCATION.
I THINK IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT WE
FRONT LOAD THIS LITERALLY AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YES, WE HAVE, YOU DO AN AMAZING
JOB WITH THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE.
WE CAN DO THIS.
WE HAD CONVERSATION, AROUND
TRANSPORTATION.
THIS IS THE QUALITY OUT OF IT.
THIS IS NOT ONLY -- IT'S A
QUALITY PERFORMANCE CHANGE, ALSO
HAS POSITIVE OUTCOMES RELATIVE
TO WELLNESS FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
I THINK WE ARE AS THE DOCTOR
NOTED EARLIERF WE DO NOTHING
THEN WE'RE DOING -- THIS IS ONE
FEW THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN IN
EDUCATION, IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO STUDY
LESS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DATA
HERE AND MOVE FASTER THAT WOULD
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR NEXT YEAR'S
GRADUATING CLASS NEED 200 POINT
INJECTION, I NEEDED A 200 POINT
INJECTION IN MY S.A.T.s WHICH
WE COULD GO BACK ON ALSO.
I THINK WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER,
ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
DOING THIS, THAT'S THE BEST AND
LATEST AND GREATEST, IT SOUNDS
AS IF THE EXPERTS AS WELL AS
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT LIKE,
COUNCILOR ESSAIBI GEORGE HAS
BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM.
FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE OF
SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE LIVES IN
PARTS OF THE CITY THAT DON'T
HAVE THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANSPORTATION BEING ABLE TO GET
TO SCHOOL, REALLY LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR LAST --
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT, NO DISREGARD TO THE
FOLKS AT BPS AND DOCTORS BUT WE
HAVE ABSOLUTE SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS WHO ARE GOING TO COME
BEFORE US, WE HAVE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE EDWARD TAPIA WHO IS
ALTERNATIVE STUDENT
REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BPS SCHOOL
COMMITTEE.
HE'S A JUNIOR AT AND LESLIE
CURRENTLY A FRESHMAN AND
CHEERLEADER AT BOSTON LATIN
ACADEMY.
WE'D LIKE YOU TO COME FORWARD.
I DO HAVE TO BRAG A LITTLE BIT
ON BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY RIGHT
NOW WE ACTUALLY JUST GOT TO GO
THERE AND CONGRATULATIONS,
BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY IS NUMBER
ONE SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF
MASSACHUSETTS FOR COLLEGE
ACCEPTANCE RATES.
REALLY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING
THERE, VERY PROUD OF WHAT
HAPPENED THERE, ALSO THE
COFOUNDER OF, I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU WERE THERE THAT DAY,
COFOUNDER OF AIR BNB.
AND EXCEL, I HEARD YOU HAVE
REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIP AROUND
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATH WE WILL PROBABLY
WORKING FOR YOU SOME DAY VERY
SOON.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
TESTIMONY.
IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD.
>> HOME LOW, CITY COUNCILORS, MY
NAME IS EDWARD, I AM JUNIOR AT
EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF BOSTON
STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL AND
STUDENT -- STUDENT AT
REPRESENTATIVE FOR BOSTON SCHOOL
COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT BENEFITS
AND CHALLENGES OF --
>> YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT BENEFITS
AND CHALLENGES OF A LATER SCHOOL
START TIME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE
OF THE STUDENTS.
IN FAVOR OF LATER START TIME FOR
STUDENTS.
CURRENTLY STUDENTS HAVE TO WAKE
UP IN THE DARK, DON'T HAVE TIME
TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
OFTEN FEEL TIRED AFTER STARTING
THE DAY.
BPS HAS ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT
WAKING UP AT EARLY HOURS HARMFUL
FOR STUDENT MINDS AND BODIES
THAT ARE STILL DEVELOPING.
IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT THEY
CHOOSE TO IGNORE THIS FACT.
WITH ADULTS THEY START WORK AT
9:00 WHERE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR TWO HOURS BY THEN.
WHY DO WE REQUIRE STUDENTS TO DO
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EXPECTED
OF ADULTS, WITH THAT SAID, WE
ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
WE KNOW THAT A LATER SCHOOL
START TIME MEANS LATER END TIME.
THIS WOULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO HOLD
JOBS THAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TO BE INVOLVED IN EXTRA
CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE
SPORTS, AND FINISH HOMEWORK IN
TIME TO GET SOME SLEEP.
ANOTHER ISSUE IS TRAFFIC.
A LOT OF STUDENTS ALREADY HAVE
LONG COMMUTE, IF WE HAVE LATER
START TIME THEIR COMMUTE WOULD
BE DURING RUSH HOUR MAKING IT
EVEN LONGER, HOW WOULD YOU AVOID
THIS SCENARIO?
AND FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN TOLD,
SCHOOLS WOULD START WITHIN AN
HOUR OF EACH OTHER DOES THAT
MEAN THAT SCHOOLS WILL ALSO END
WITHIN AN HOUR OF EACH OTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
LESLIE?
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS LESS SEE, I
AM STUDENT AT BOSTON LATIN
ACADEMY I PERSONALLY OPPOSE
STARTING LATER DUE TO THE FACT
THAT I AM A CHEERLEADER SO AFTER
SCHOOL I GO STRAIGHT TO
CHEERLEADING, AND I LIVE IN
ALSON GOING TO DORCHESTER TAKES
ABOUT 45 MINUTES EVERY DAY SO ON
NORMAL DAY I WAKE UP AT 5:00,
LEAVE HOUSE BY 6:00, CATCH THE
BUS WHICH IF I MISS IT LUCKILY
STILL GET TO SCHOOL BY 6:20
WHERE THE BELL STARTS.
WE END AT 1:40 WHICH IS REALLY
CONVENIENT BECAUSE STUDENTS DO
WORK OR DO EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES, CHEERLEADERS GO FROM
2:15 TO 4:15 WHILE FOOTBALL
PLAYERS GO FROM 2:15 TO 5:30
STILL HAVE HOMEWORK TO DO.
I FEEL THAT TRANSPORTATION IF WE
ALL START LATER, KNOWING THAT
RUSH HOUR STARTS AT A CERTAIN
HOUR, STUDENTS AND ADULTS WOULD
BE BUMPING INTO EACH OTHER.
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS START AT
8:30 AND GO LATER.
THEN STARTING LATER, SOME
PARENTS HAVE TO SAY THAT WE ARE
LEAVING OUR HOUSE TOO EARLY
WHICH IS LIKE GOING INTO THE
DARKF WE START LATER WE'LL BE
BACK AT POINT ZERO WHERE WE'RE
COMING HOME IN THE DARK PARENTS
ARE AFRAID THAT SOMETHING MIGHT
HAPPEN TO US, I THINK THIS EXTRA
CURRICULAR ACTIVITY IF WE GO
LATER FROM AROUND 3:30 I'M STILL
GOING TO GET AROUND 6:00 OR 7:30
NOT ABLE TO DO HOMEWORK, PUSHING
BACK MY SLEEP, WAKING UP AT
5:00.
THANK YOU.
FOR THE RECORD, LESLIE IS INTERN
IN MY OFFICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM BOTH
OF YOU IF YOU WOULD JUST SHARE
FEW COMMENTS, FEW SENTENCES
ABOUT SORT OF YOUR SLEEP HABITS.
WHAT TIME DO YOU TO GO BED, ARE
YOU BRINGING THE PHONE WITH YOU,
WHEN ARE YOU FALLING ASLEEP AS
OPPOSED TO GOING TO BED.
YOU CAN EVEN REFERENCE, IF YOU
DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
YOURSELF BUT YOUR FRIENDS.
>> BY THE TIME I GET HOME FROM
ANYTHING, ANY OTHER ACTIVITY,
EVENT THAT I HAVE DURING THE DA
DAY, IT'S PROBABLY BY 8:00 P.M.
I HAVE DINNER, TAKE A SHOWER
LIKE EVERYONE AND START HOMEWORK
AROUND 9:00.
THIS YEAR I HAVE AN AP
GOVERNMENT CLASS.
THAT CLASS USUALLY TAKES TWO
HOURS ALMOST THREE OF HOMEWORK.
THEN I HAVE MY USUAL HOMEWORK,
ALSO TAKES ABOUT TWO HOURS.
THAT'S FIVEF I DO THE MATH, END
UP GOING TO BED AROUND 2:00 A.M.
ALMOST.
>> WHAT TIME ARE YOU UP?
TO GET READY TO GO TO SCHOOL.
>> I GET UP AT 5:30.
I'LL BE LUCKY IF I GET TO SLEEP
FIVE HOURS.
>> I GET HOME ON DAILY BASIS
AROUND 6:00.
GIVES ME AN HOUR TO TAKE A NAP
OR JUST CHILL, MENTALLY PREPARE
MYSELF FOR HOMEWORK.
I THINK WE ARE KNOWN FOR THE
AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK, FLUCTUATES
FROM TWO TO FIVE HOURS HOMEWORK
KNOWING THAT I HAVE THREE HONOR
CLASSES IN ONE DAY.
ON TOP OF GETTING HOME MENTALLY
PREPARING MYSELF FOR ANOTHER
DAY.
I THINK BY THE TIME THAT I'M
DONE I GIVE MYSELF AN HOUR, BY
THE TIME I'M IN BED BY 10:00,
WATCH TV OR GOSSIP AROUND BY
THAT TIME I'M READY TO PREPARE
MYSELF IS 10:30, LIGHTS OUT I'M
ASLEEP BY 11:00.
THEN I WAKE UP AT 5:30.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILOR O'MALLEY?
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY.
I WAS YOUR AGE WHEN I FIRST
TESTIFIED IN THIS CHAMBER IN
THOSE VERY SEATS ON EDUCATION
MATTER WAY BACK IN THE MID
1990s LONG BEFORE YOU GUYS
WERE BORN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE YOU ON
THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE SOME DAY.
IT'S NOT EASY, WE APPRECIATE IT.
I'M INTRIGUED BECAUSE I HAVE
HEARD AS I SAID FOR MANY PARENTS
I'VE HEARD FROM THIS -- YOUNG
ADULTS AS WELL WHO SEEM TO
REALLY SUPPORT THIS IDEA.
I THINK YOU BOTH ARTICULATED HOW
HECTIC THE LIFE OF AN INVOLVED
STUDENT CAN BE.
DO EITHER OF YOU WORK AT PCAC
YOU HAVE PART TIME JOB AS WELL.
SOME OF THOSE DAYS, THAT'S
GREAT.
YOU GET TO BED AROUND 10:30 SOME
DAYS IT'S LATER I HOPE TO GOSH
SOME OF THOSE 2:30 DAYS YOU GET
EARLIER NIGHTS.
DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH -- BLA
STARTS WHAT TIME?
>> 7 OR 7:30 GET OUT AT 1:40
THAT GIVES YOU ENOUGH TIME
CHEERLEADING STARTS AROUND 2:30
A LITTLE BIT OF BREAK TO GET
OVER, WHAT TIME DOES HE CAN SELL
START?
>> EXCEL STARTS AT 7:00 25.
GETS OUT AROUND SAME TIME
1:45 OR SO.
IF WE WERE TO GO FOR -- AGAIN I
THINK 8:30 WHICH WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT MY THAT COULD CHANGE.
IT'S A HALF HOUR DELAY SO 8 A.M.
START FOR YOUR SCHOOL WOULD PUSH
THINGS BACK DO YOU FEEL THAT
WINDOW BETWEEN WHERE LAST YEAR
DISMISSAL BELL AND YOUR
CHEERLEADING OR AFTER-SCHOOL
WORK THAT YOU NEED THAT TIME YOU
COULDN'T ADJUST THAT A LITTLE
BIT SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE LATER
START TIME WHILE KEEPING YOUR
SCHEDULE?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IF WE PUSH
BACK THE TIME AN HOUR LIKE 8:30,
THAT SUBJECTLY WHEN THERE'S LOT
OF TRAFFIC AROUND DORCHESTER OR
I DON'T KNOW SOUTH END.
>> YOUR CONCERN MORE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF LATER START
TIME.
BE MORE STRESSED.
>> I BELIEVE THAT AS STUDENT WE
CAN MANAGE OUR TIME BETTER, LIKE
FOCUS OF GETTING MORE SLEEP AS
POSSIBLE.
IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE EASIER FOR
US IF WE HAD LATER START TIME.
AT THE SAME TIME, I AM LOOKING
AT THE FACT THAT BOSTON TRAFFIC
IS NOT THE NICEST MOST
WELCOMING.
DURING RUSH HOUR TO GET TO
SCHOOL REGARDLESS OF MBTA OR IF
YOUR PARENTS ARE TAKING YOU OR
IF YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE SCHOOL
BUSES, YOU MIGHT HAVE LIKE 30
MINUTE DELAY JUST BECAUSE OF
RUSH HOUR WHICH EXTENDS THAT
TIME, THAT COMMUTE THAT YOU TAKE
FROM GETTING HOME TO SCHOOL.
AND ALSO COMING OUT OF SCHOOL
LATER, IF WE COME OUT AT 2:45
IT'S ALMOST RUSH HOUR FOR
AFTERNOON WHICH ALSO EXTENDS
THAT TIME THAT WE GET FROM
SCHOOL LET'S SAY TO WORK OR TO
SOME ACTIVITY OR HOME.
IT FLUCTUATES WITH TRAFFIC BUT
ALSO THINK THAT IF WE HAVE
SHUTTLE BUSES THAT TAKES US FROM
THE NEAREST STATION WHERE YOU
LIVE THEN THAT TIME PERIOD, THAT
COMMUTE COULD BE SHORTENED BY
SOME EXTENT.
>> WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
I LIVE IN SOUTH END.
EXCEL IS IN SOUTH --
I LIVE LIKE 20 MINUTE WALK.
DO YOU TYPICALLY WALK?
I TYPICALLY WALK IF I TAKE
THE BUS IT WILL BE ABOUT 40
MINUTES.
>> AND A HUNDRED PEOPLE WAITING
FOR THE BUS.
HOW DO YOU GET FROM --
>> DO YOU DO YOU GET?
I TAKE THE 56, THE 2.
THE SCHOOL DOES PROVIDE SHUTTLE
BUS, IT'S NOT RELIABLE AT ALL.
I FEEL LIKE EVERY DAY WHEN I
TEXT MY FRIENDS, IT'S EITHER
LATE, COMES EARLY, I MISS IT OR
JUST NOT GOING TO SHOW UP.
>> IS IT DIRECT TO THE FRONT
DOOR.
IF YOU TAKE SHUTTLE BUS.
>> IF I TAKE SHUTTLE BUS GIVES
ME 30 EXTRA MINUTES TO SLEEP
THEN THE BUS WILL BE THERE BY 7:
7:20.
6:20, SORRY.
GIVES ME MORE TIME TO READ ALL
THE BOOKS, HOMEWORK, STILL NOT
WORRY ABOUT TAKING THE SHUTTLE
OR FREEZING IN THE WINTER
KNOWING HOW IT IS.
SHUTTLE BUSES ARE MORE
CONVENIENT LOOKING AT LATER
START TIME.
>> EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN
INCONSISTENT.
>> DID YOU DON'T TAKE SHUTTLE
BUS THEN SWITCH.
THANK YOU BOTH.
>> IS THAT A T BUS OR -- MBTA.
SPECIFIC TO LATIN ACADEMY.
>> I WENT TO BOSTON TECH WE
DIDN'T GET A SPECIAL BUS.
>> THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR SHARING
TODAY.
I KNOW, EDWARD, YOU'VE BEEN
DOING SO MUCH WORK, I'VE
WITNESSED SINCE COMING ON THE
COUNCIL AND LESLIE, HAPPY TO
HAVE YOU IN OUR OFFICE THANK YOU
FOR TESTIFYING TODAY EVEN THOUGH
IT'S IN DIFFERING OPINION THAN I
HAVE, I APPRECIATE THAT, THANK
YOU.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO
START WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
AGAIN PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS
TO JUST A FEW MINUTES WE'LL
START WITH DEB PUTNAM.
YOU CAN COME DOWN TO THIS PODIUM
HERE THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THEN
CELIA WILL BE NEXT.
IT'S EMPTY IN HERE NOW.
>> THAT'S OKAY VIEWERS AT HOME
WILL APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU
COUNCILORS O'MALLEY, ESSAIBI
GEORGE FOR SPONSORING THIS.
THANK YOU ALL THE OTHER
COUNCILOR FOR LISTENING ON THE
VIDEO THAT YOU'RE NOT HERE RIGHT
NOW, APPRECIATE IT.
MY NAME IS DEB PUTNAM I'M PARENT
OF TWO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL.
THE START TIMES OF MY HIGH
SCHOOLERS ARE 7:20 A.M. AND 7:30
A.M.
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, IN FACT
50% OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
HIGH SCHOOLS START BEFORE 7:30
REAR TO MEDICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
YOU'VE HEARD HERE TODAY.
THESE START TIMES ARE
DETRIMENTAL TO BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS FAMILIES ACROSS THE
CITY.
THE BOSTON CHAPTER LEADER START
SCHOOL LATER WE STARTED WHEN
PARENTS CAME TOGETHER IN 2014 IN
RESPONSE TO OUR PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES WITH FAMILY SLEEP
DEBT AND GALVANIZED BY THE
PLETHORA OF MEDICAL AND
EDUCATIONAL DATA ON BENEFITS OF
LATER SCHOOL STARTS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 100
SUPPORTIVE PARENTS ON E-MAIL
LISTS AND THROUGH FACEBOOK.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY MORE.
I HAVE SPOKEN IN PARTICULAR WITH
PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC
MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS, CONDITIONS THAT ARE
GREATLY EXACERBATED WITH LACK OF
SLEEP.
SINCE FORMING OUR GROUP WE HAVE
CONDUCTED EDUCATION AND
DISCOVERY PRIMARILY AT BOSTON
LATIN ACADEMY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS,
ADMINISTRATORS THINK ABOUT SLEEP
AND SCHOOL START TIMES AND
NETWORK WITH OTHER BOSTON PUBLIC
HIGH SCHOOLS, WE TALKED WITH
MANY PARENTS, SCHOOL LEADERS,
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TEACHERS,
STUDENTS, BPS WELLNESS, BPS
ATHLETICS AND BTU ALL OF WHOM
ARE SUPPORTER OF LATER SCHOOL
START TIMES.
WE'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL
MEDIA OUTLETS, WGBH, FOX, WCVB,
COMMUNITY NEWS, SHARED OUR
EFFORTS WITH INTERESTED COLLEGE
AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ONE OF
WHOM IS HERE TONIGHT, I BELIEVE.
VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WITH
WHOM WE SPEAK BELIEVE IN
RESEARCH, SUPPORT THIS EFFORT
AND WANT TO KNOW WHEN BPS IS
GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
I'LL SHARE WITH YOU A BIT OF
DATA THAT THAT SHOWS STEEP
STATUS OF BLA STUDENTS.
THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, NOT MANY
PEOPLE LEFT, BUT BLA ONE OF THE
MOST DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE
CITY AND 61% OF STUDENTS QUALIFY
FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.
THIS SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED IN
SPRING 2015 IN HOME ROOMS WITH
iPADS, WITH 82% RESPONSE RATE.
ALMOST ALL THE KIDS RESPONDED.
THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT 40% OF
STUDENTS WAKE UP AT OR BEFORE
5:30 A.M.
10th GRADERS.
44% OF STUDENTS GET 7 HOURS OR
LESS OF SLEEP A NIGHT.
39% GET SIX HOURS OF SLEEP OR
LESS A NIGHT.
LESS THAN 4% GET EIGHT HOURS OR
MORE SLEEP A NIGHT.
YOU'VE HEARD RECOMMENDATION
EARLIER ABOUT AMOUNT OF SLEEP
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE GET
CAN CAN.
AS YOU CAN SEE BOTH SLEEP
QUALITY AND QUANTITY IS
COMPROMISED IMPACTING ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT AND HEALTH.
IN SEPARATE SURVEYS, 50% OF BLA
STAFF AND 78% OF PARENTS WANT A
LATER START TIME.
THIS DEMONSTRATES PARENTS,
STUDENTS AND TEACHESSER ARE
UNHAPPY WITH THE CURRENT START
TIME SO INSTEAD OF THINKING AS
CHANGE EFFORT LIKE WHAT COULD BE
POSSIBLE, FOLKS SHOULD KNOW THAT
PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE
CURRENT START TIME.
WE'VE ENCOUNTERED VERY FEW
TEACHERS WHO DISAGREE, THEY
BELIEVE THE RESEARCH AS I THINK
YOU'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.
MOST TEACHERS, HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHERS KNOW NOT TO GIVE TEST
THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE DAY.
WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH PARENTS WHO
DISAGREE, SOME OF WHOM MAY BE
HERE TODAY, MANY PARENTS
THINKING ABOUT A CHANGE AS
ANOTHER COMPLICATION TO ALREADY
BUSY EARLY MORNING OR AFTERNOON
ROUTINE.
BUT AS WE TRANSFER CAR SEATS
FROM CAR TO CAR IN THE POURING
RAIN, BROUGHT OUR UNHAPPY CHILD
TO BE IMMUNIZED OR TIGHTENED THE
STRAP OF BICYCLE I WILL HET WE
CAN DO THIS, TOO.
WE KNOW THAT LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND FAMILIES DISPROPORTIONATELY
BEAR THE BURDEN.
SUCH AS ACTION CITIES HEALTHY
FOODS, OPEN GREEN SPACES,
QUALITY TRANSPORTATION, AIR
QUALITY.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR SLEEP AS
YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER.
EQUITY ASSESSMENT MUST BE
CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY THE IMPACT
OF START TIMES ON BOSTON'S
MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS.
OUR BLA SURVEY FOUND THAT 36% OF
10th GRADE STUDENTS HELD AN
AFTER SCHOOL JOB.
JUST SPEAK TO THAT AFTER SCHOOL
EMPLOYMENT NEED.
BUT WE ASKED WHEN THE START TIME
WAS OF THE JOB, 82% IT WAS 4:00
P.M. OR LATER.
IF OUR SCHOOL ENDED AN HOUR
LATER WHICH WOULD BE 2:20 P.M.,
THOSE STUDENTS WOULD STILL BE
ABLE TO MAKE THEIR START TIME OF
THEIR SCHOOL.
SHOWS THAT COMMONLY ASSUMED
BARRIER, THAT ABOUT SCHOOL JOBS
MAY NOT BE SO SIGNIFICANT.
CITY OF SEATTLE A GREAT EQUITY
ASSESSMENT THAT'S AVAILABLE
ONLINE.
SINNER WORK OVER PAST TWO YEARS
WE HAVE NOT FOUND BPS DISTRICT
LEADERS, ALL DO RESPECT, I DON'T
THINK THEY'RE HERE -- ONE IS
HERE.
COMMITTED TO THIS ISSUE, THIS IS
REALLY SURPRISING FOR A DISTRICT
THAT'S COMMITTED TO ACHIEVEMENT
GAPS LESSENING THE ACHIEVEMENT
GAP.
WE DID HEAR THAT THERE WAS A
SMALL GROUP OF HIGH LEVEL
ADMINISTRATORS WHO MET ONCE
EARLY THIS YEAR AND DECIDED THAT
LATER SCHOOL START TIMES COULD
NOT BE PURSUED.
WE ASKED WHY THERE WAS NO
RATIONAL PROVIDED.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT
THERE ARE WORKING GROUPS IN
CONVERSATION, THAT IS TOTALLY
NEWS TO US, AGAIN WE HAVE THIS
NETWORK OF GREAT PARENTS WE'RE
INTERESTED IN ENGAGEMENT.
WE ASK YOU THE CITY COUNCIL, TO
ENACT A RESOLUTION REQUIRING
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADOPT
THE RECOMMENDED SCHOOL START
TIME OF 8:30 OR LATER FOR MIDDLE
AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE ASK YOU TO MAKE SURE EQUITY
IMPACT ASSESSMENT IS PART OF
THIS EFFORT.
WE ALSO REQUEST THAT SCHOOLS
THAT WANT TO ADOPT A LATER
SCHOOL START TIME AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE BE SUPPORTED TO DO SO.
I BELIEVE BLA ONE SUCH SCHOOL.
THERE ARE TONS OF RESOURCES THAT
HELP THE CITY MOVE FORWARD AS
WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
MASSACHUSETTS START SCHOOL LATER
NETWORK IS PART OF THAT, CITY OF
SEATTLE CONDUCTED EQUITY
ANALYSIS, THAT IS ONLINE.
DOCUMENT CALLED THE BLUEPRINT
FOR CHANGE WHICH OUTLINES THIS
VERY CLEARLY AND MANY MORE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HOLDING
THIS HEARING, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR WORKING
GROUPS.
>> THANK YOU, CELIA.
THEN WE'LL HAVE TIM.
AND JEFFREY COOK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON THANK YOU FOR
SPONSORING THIS HEARING, THANKS
FOR EVERYBODY LISTENING TO THIS
VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
MY NAME CELIA, I AM THE PARENT
OF TWO TEENAGE BOYS AT BOSTON
LATIN ACADEMY.
BLA AS YOU SAID GOT 7:20 START.
WE LIVE LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY
AS THE CROW FLIES IN JAMAICA
PLAINS YET MY SONS HAVE TO BE UP
AT 6:00 TO MAKE SCHOOL ON TIME.
DORCHESTER OR ALSTON, FAR
EARLIER START.
ALTHOUGH WEATHER TODAY STILL
FEELS MORE LIKE SUMMER, IT'S
ACTUALLY OCTOBER THE 17th
WE'RE COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE
CLOCK CHANGE GOING TO MAKE THOSE
EARLY MORNINGS EVEN DARKER.
5:25 I'D LIKE TO YOU BRIEFLY
SHUT YOUR EYES BUT PLEASE DON'T
FALL ASLEEP.
TAKE A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHES,
QUIET YOUR MIND.
IMAGINE WHAT A GREAT FULL DAY
COULD LOOK LIKE FOR MIDDLE AND
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE.
HOW MIGHT THAT FEEL TO ALL OF
OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS AND
STAFF, OUR PARENTS AND FAMILY.
HOW WOULD WE FEEL OFFERING THE
BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE DAYS OUR
STUDENTS.
I'M SURE MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE
JUMPED THE OPPORTUNITY OF
TOTALLY REINVENTING THE SCHOOL
DAY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO DO THAT
YET, BUT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO
CONSIDER HOW THE 180 DAYS OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR STARTS.
FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR MIDDLE
AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IT'S
VERY EARLY AND YOU CAN ALL
INFLUENCE THAT.
YOUR LEADERS, YOUR INFLUENCES
AND AS I SAID MANY OF YOU ARE
PARENTS, TOO.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER
LATER SCHOOL START TIMES TO
ADOPT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRIC GUIDELINES THAT NO
MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL STARTED
BEFORE 8:30.
CHANGE IS HARD.
THE STATUS QUO CAN BE A VERY
COMFORTING PLACE.
THE CURRENT CHANGE THAT WE'RE
ASKING TO YOU CONSIDER TODAY IS
THAT WHILE THE EVIDENCE,
RECOMMENDING LATER SCHOOL START
TIME IS COMPELLING, GIVEN DEEP
UNDERSTANDING OF ADOLESCENT
BIOLOGY RELATING TO SLEEP, WHILE
WE ALL CLAIM TO HOLD IN OUR
HEARTS THAT WE WANT TO DO THE
BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS, NOTHING
IS MOVING IN THIS AREA.
BOSTON SEES ITSELF AS A LEADER
FOR THIS NATION IN MANY AREAS.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
DREW ME HERE AS GRAD STUDENT.
BUT ARE WE LEADING IN THIS AREA?
OVER 50% OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS
START BEFORE 7:30.
THIS QUESTION RELATED TO LATER
SCHOOL START TIME IS NOT A NEW
ISSUE.
A DECADE AGO BPS SPONSORED A
STUDY ENTITLED "BOSTON PLANS FOR
EXCELLENCE" WHICH RECOMMENDED A
LATER SCHOOL START TIME TON
PILOTED TO MEASURE IMPACT AND
COST.
IT WAS NEVER DONE.
IN THE PAST TEN YEARS AS YOU'VE
HEARD TODAY MANY SCHOOL
DISTRICTS HAVE MADE THE MOVE.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE
EXPERIENCES OF OTHER SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND RESULTS THAT THEY
HAVE ACHIEVED.
SO, ARE WE IN BOSTON LEADING IN
THIS IMPORTANT AREA.
I'D LIKE TO YOU HOLD UP A MIRROR
TO YOUR OWN HALT AND HEAD AND
ASK WHETHER YOU AS A LEADER AND
INFLUENCER IN THIS CITY ARE
EXERCISING YOUR LEADERSHIP
RESPONSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO
LATER SCHOOL START.
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR MIRROR?
WHAT OBSTACLES, REAL OR IMAGINED
ARE WE PUTTING IN THE PATH OF
THIS POTENTIAL CHANGE.
I WOULD ATTEST IF WE'RE HONEST
WITH OURSELVES, WHEN WE LOOK
INTO OUR MIRRORS BEYOND SEEING
OURSELVES, MANY OF THE THINGS WE
SEE REFLECTING BACK AT US, TAIL
WAGGING THE DOG ISSUES, SUCH AS
TRANSPORTATION, ATHLETICS, AFTER
SCHOOL JOBS.
AT BLA WHEN WE STARTED
INVESTIGATING BARRIERS RAISED BY
PARENTS AND FAMILY DURING OUR
DISCOVERY PROCESS, WE LEARNED
THAT TRANSPORTATION IS
INCREASINGLY BECOMING A MOOT
POINT.
THERE AREN'T AS MANY BUSES FOR
7th AND 8th GRADERS BEYOND
THE SHUTTLES THEY ARE REPLACES
WITH T PASSES.
ATHLETIC SCHEDULES WHEN WE SPOKE
WITH THE BPS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
WE LEARNED SITTING ON THE BUS
WAITING FOR OTHER SCHOOLS TO
FINISH.
AFTER SCHOOL JOBS, SURVEY OF BLA
STUDENTS SHOWS MAJORITY OF THESE
JOBS THAT YOU HEARD FROM DEB
STARTED ABOUT 4:00.
THAT IS NOT TO DISMISS THAT
THERE ARE SOME TOUGHER
CHALLENGES SUCH AS STUDENTS WHO
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUNGER
SIBLINGS, OFTEN AFFORDABLE AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE LACKING.
WE NEED TO HAVE OPEN MINDS,
READINESS AND WILLINGNESS TO
LOOK AT THE OBSTACLES AND TEST
WHETHER OUR BELIEF THAT THESE
ARE REAL OR IMAGINED.
WITH OUR OPEN HEARTS IN MIND,
READINESS AND WILLINGNESS IT'S
ALL TOO EASY TO PUT THE ISSUE OF
LATER SCHOOL START TIME IN THE
TOO DIFFICULT BOX.
BUT IT'S BEEN THERE FOR TOO
LONG.
SCHOOL BUDGETS ARE ALWAYS TIGHT,
AS LEADERS WE WILL DEMONSTRATE
THAT JUSTIFIABLE VALUE OF
BUDGETS SPEND, FROM AN OUTCOME
PERSPECTIVE IF YOU ARE A LEADER
AND YOU KNEW THAT YOUR BUDGET
WAS FUNDING -- WHAT WOULD YOU
DO.
I'M SURE YOU'D MAKE THE CHANGE.
NOBODY WANTS TO THROW POTENTIAL
OR MONEY AWAY.
WHEN WE POLLED STUDENTS AT BLA
ASKED THEM AT WHAT POINT IN THE
SCHOOL DAY DO YOU FEEL AWAKE AND
READY TO LEARN?
60% OF THE 10th GRADERS SAID
9:00 OR LATER.
THE BLA THIS MEANS THAT THE
FIRST TWO STEVEING PERIODS OF
THE DAY AND RELATED BUDGET WAS
NOT ACHIEVING THE DESIRED
RESULTS.
WE'RE WASTING BOTH POTENTIAL AND
DOLLARS.
WE CAN DO BETTER, MUCH BETTER.
MUCH BETTER IS NOT MORE STUDIES.
MUCH BETTER IS ACTION AND ACTION
NEEDS TO BE NOW.
PLEASE CONSIDER TO ENACT THE
RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE THE
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADOPT
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS LATER SCHOOL START
TIME OF 8:30 OR LATER.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY
OF BOSTON AND TO THE ACADEMICS
SUCCESS OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
KIM.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EQUIPMENT.
I LIVE IN EAST BOSTON, I AM THE
PARENT OFth GRADER WHO JUST
STARTED BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY.
WE FEEL INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO
HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL AVAILABLE TO OUR SON BUT
AT THE SAME TIME I FEEL A LITTLE
BIT CURSED.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SIX YEARS OF
THESE PREDAWN WAKE UPS, THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING, I CAN ONLY
IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE
LIKE A FEW YEARS FROM NOW.
ALSO FEW YEARS FROM NOW WHEN BLA
IS NOT NEW AND EXCITING AND
DIFFERENT AND IT'S JUST ROUTINE,
IT'S GOING TO GET HARDER.
TO GET TO BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY
FROM EAST BOSTON, HE'S GETTING
UP AT ABOUT 5:HO IN THE MORNING
THAT'S TO GET HIM OUT THE DOOR
BY 6:00 A.M.
WE'RE LUCKY IF HE EATS
BREAKFAST, FIRST TIME THAT I
TRIED TO GIVE HIM BREAKFAST
BEFORE HE GOT OUT THE DOOR HE
LITERALLY WAS -- HIS BODY IS NOT
USED TO BEING AWAKE LET ALONE HE
GOT SICK ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.
IS HE GETS THERE, TOO LATE TO BE
ABLE TO EAT BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL
THAT MEANS LOT OF TIMES HE'S
GOING UNTIL 11:00, 11:30 BEFORE
HE'S EATING ANYTHING.
IT'S SO COUNT TORE HIS PHYSICAL
AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHERE
HE'S AT TO HAVE HIM PUSHED OUT
THE DOOR AT THAT HOUR.
HE'S ALREADY MISSED A DAY OF
SCHOOL THIS YEAR BECAUSE HE WAS
JUST SO TIRED.
IT WAS A THURSDAY, JUST
ACCUMULATED, HAVING TO TRY TO
GET TO BED EARLY AND NOT QUITE
MAKING IT THEN GETTING UP EARLY
HE JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT.
THERE WAS ANOTHER DAY WHEN HE
ARRIVED AT MAVERICK SQUARE,
DISCOVERED HE HAD JUST MISSED
THE BLUE LININGS NEXT TRAIN WAS
COMING IN TEN MINUTES.
HE'S A TEENAGER, HIS POWERS OF
DECISION MAKING ARE NOT QUITE --
MAYBE YOURS AND MINE ARE, BUT TO
THEN HAVE HIM FACED WITH -- A
LITTLE SLEEP DRIED, HE'S
PLANNING HIS OWN INTERNAL CLOCK
TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT
SITUATION, WHAT DO I DO.
IT OVERWHELMED HIM, HE TURNED
AROUND RAN HOME, CAME IN THE
DOOR CRYING.
LUCKILY I WAS THERE TO BAIL HIM
OUT GIVE HIM A RIDE TO SCHOOL,
BUT I CAN'T DO THAT EVERY DAY.
IT FEELS LIKE JUST A WHEN WE'RE
ASKING OUR KID TO TAKE UP MORE
RESPONSIBILITY, SAYING YOU NEED
TO SELF TRANSPORT, GIVEN A T
PASS WHEN THEY'RE ON TRANSIT
THEY ARE FACED WITH A MILLION
DECISIONS EVERY DAY ABOUT, WHAT
DO I DO, DO I HOP OFF THE TRAIN
HERE GET THE SILVER LINE BECAUSE
IT'S GOING TO BE FASTER.
VERY DYNAMIC CHANGING CHAIRABLE
SITUATION, JUST ASKING THEM TO
FACE THAT SITUATION, WE'RE
PUSHING THEM OUT THE DOOR WHEN
THEY ARE HALF ASLEEP.
WE HEARD FROM THE EXPERTS THAT,
HAVING TO MAKE MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAN EVER
HAD TO FACE BEFORE WHEN -- MAKES
IT THAT MUCH HARDER FOR THEM.
IT'S ALSO, MY SON PLAYS SPORTS.
HE'S A SOCCER PLAYER.
BUT HE DOESN'T PLAY SPORTS AT
SCHOOL HE PLAYS SPORTS WITH
TRAVEL TEAM.
THERE'S OMAN EERIE SOURCES
AVAILABLE TO OUR KIDS WHETHER
IT'S SPORTS OR MUSIC OR ART,
THAT ARE NOT SCHOOL BASED.
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES AT
SCHOOL BUT THINGS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE NOT AT SCHOOL AND HIS
PRACTICES START AT 6:00 P.M.
HE'S DONE AT 8:00.
HE'S PLAY IN ROXBURY BY THE TIME
WE GET HOME IT'S 9:00.
ACTUALLY PUSHING THE SCHOOL
START TIME LATER WOULD MAKE IT
EASIER FOR HIM TO PARTICIPATE IN
SPORTS OR OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT
ARE OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE.
THE LAST THING TO TOUCH ON IS
ISSUE OF EQUITY.
I LIVE IN EAST BOSTON I'VE LIVED
THERE MORE THAN 13 YEARS, I'M
SORRY SAY THIS IN FRONT OF
COUNCILOR LaMATTINA, I HAVE TO
THINK, SHOULD I MOVE OUT OF MY
NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE IT EASIER
FOR MY SON TO BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY OF BOSTON LATIN
ACADEMY.
BUT THAT IS A CHOICE THAT I
HAVE, I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY
HAS THAT CHOICE.
IF I WERE LIVING IN PUBLIC
HOUSING, IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE
EAST BOSTON WHERE MAJORITY OF
OUR RESIDENTS ARE LATINO OR
LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS, YOU
DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THOSE CHOICES
AVAILABLE, THERE'S TREMENDOUS
ISSUES OF EQUITY HERE THAT I
THINK THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE
INTO CONSIDERATION.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING
THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY AND
URGE YOU TO PASS THE RESOLUTION
TO MAKE THE SCHOOL START TIME
LATER.
>> THANK YOU, KIM.
JEFFREY.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
YOU CAN COME DOWN AFTER JEFFREY.
WE'RE JUST PAST THE 5:30 MARK.
I'D LOVE TO NOT PUSH YOU ALONG,
ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE QUICK.
>> MY NAME IS JEFF.
I LIVE IN BOSTON OBVIOUSLY I
HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THE BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ONE CHILD AT BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY
THAT STARTS AT 8:00 GOES TO
4:00.
ANOTHER CHILD, THERE SEEMS TO BE
NUMBER OF US HERE BOSTON LATIN
ACADEMY, STARTS AT 7:20 IN FACT
IT DOES.
THE GOAL TO GET THERE BY 7:10 SO
YOU'RE IN HOME ROOM AND ROLL
TAKEN.
I WAS CERTAINLY ON THE FENCE,
MAYBE EVEN TENDING TOWARD IT'S A
BAD IDEA TO START SCHOOL LATER.
I WENT THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL
GETTING FIVE HOURS OF SLEEP A
NIGHT I WAS QUITE RIGOROUS WITH
MYSELF.
MAYBE NOT SO HEALTHY.
MAYBE NOT SO WISE.
ALL THOSE THINGS I BELIEVE AND I
BELIEVE HELPED GET ME TO SCHOOL,
GET ME WHERE I AM.
AS I JOINED THE COMMITTEE TO THE
LATER SCHOOL, I WAS EXPOSED TO
THE DOCTORS, I WISH THEY WERE
STILL HERE.
THERE ARE COUPLE OF REALLY
SALIENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN
THEIR PRESENTATION, I WISH YOU
COULD SEE HIS IMAGES AS WELL AS
HIS WORDS BECAUSE THE IMAGE,
C.A.T. SCAN OF THE BRAIN, FROM
METABOLISM, ALL THE CAPILLARIES
AND ARTERIES AND WATCH IT CHANGE
IN THE LAST TWO HOURS OF SLEEP
CLEAN ITSELF OUT, TELL YOU THAT
IT CONTAINS A PROTEIN THAT NOT
ONLY INHIBITS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
BUT ALSO LINKS TO ALZHEIMER'S
PRETTY DAMN COMPELLING TO SEE.
AS A PERSON WHO WAS ON THE FENCE
AND HAVING TO WRESTLE BETWEEN
THE SCIENCE AND MY OWN PERSONAL
VALUES, IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO
EVOLVE.
I THINK THAT THAT PERSONAL
JOURNEY IS ALSO A JOURNEY THAT
WILL HAPPEN WITH MANY PARENTS
AND SCHOOL IN GENERAL, ONE THAT
I HOPE BEGINS SOON.
I THANK YOU BOTH FOR HAVING THIS
HEARING TO FURTHER THAT
DISCUSSION.
HAVING RECONCILED THOSE THINGS,
A BIT LIKE WHEN YOU BECOME
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE
PERSON YOU STARTED OUT AS, I
WALK INTO MY DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM
AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING SAY,
DEAR, AFTER SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP
I WANT TO YOU STOP CONSOLIDATING
KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAD YESTERDAY
AND GO TO SCHOOL.
I WANT ALL THAT HAVE TO STILL
EXIST IN YOUR BRAIN TO STAY
THERE BECAUSE SOME DAY I WANT
YOU TO BE GO TO DOCTOR EXPLAIN
WHY YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH
YOUR MEMORY.
YOU FEEL PRETTY FOOLISH DRAGGING
YOUR KID OUT OF BED WHEN YOU
USED TO THINK EARLY BIRD CATCHES
THE WORM AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE
WISE AND HEALTHY AND WEALTHY,
WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.
LAST TWO HOURS OF SLEEP NOW WE
KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, I EMBRACE
THAT SCIENCE WHICH I HAD A HARD
TIME ACCEPTING AND I'M GOING TO
REITERATE ONE THING THAT WAS
POINTED TO EARLIER, THE 10th
GRADER AT BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY
I'M GOING TO ADD THEM, LESS THAN
SIX OR SEVEN HOURS.
80% OF THE 10th GRADERS AT
BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY GET LESS
THAN SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP A
NIGHT.
ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
SEVEN HOURS, BIG UNCONSCIONABLE
THAT WE DO THIS.
ABSOLUTELY.
I APPLAUD BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING
INSIGHTFUL ENOUGH TO BRING THIS
IN TO A PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND
LOOK FORWARD TO A ROBUST AND
EVOLVING DISCUSSION AND I PRAY
THAT NEXT YEAR WE START AT 8:30.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD.
>> SURE, COUNCILOR, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS MARK.
I RESIDE AT 95ARDALE STREET IN
THE ROSLINDALE AREA OF BOSTON
FOR PURPOSES OF IDENTIFICATION,
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
METRO 308 L TAN AREA PLANNING
COUNCIL.
THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
AND SERVED AS MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
AT THE MOMENT I'M HERE AS THE
PARENT OF SAM WHO IS AN 8th
GRADER AT BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY.
WE SEEM TO HAVE NUMBERS FROM BLA
TODAY.
I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE
SUPPORTING A LATER START TIME.
MY SON IS OUT AT 6:15.
I AM UP AT 5:15 EVERY MORNING.
WE WORK THROUGH THE DAY, WE'VE
HAD MANY OF THE DIFFICULTIES
THAT OTHER PARENTS HAVE
MENTIONED, DIFFICULTY GETTING
HIM OUT OF BED THAT EARLY.
ACCOMPLISHING THE THINGS HE
NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE
MORNING, MAKING SURE THAT LUNCH
IS MADE, MAKING SURE THAT HE HAS
SOME BREAKFAST AND THEN GETTING
HIM TO BED AT A VERY EARLY HOUR
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO
ACCOMMODATE THE EARLY RISE.
IT IS DIFFICULT, BECAUSE IT IS
NOT THE INCLINATION THAT
TEENAGERS HAVE.
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THAT
BY DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT
HE'S TIRED OR BY DEALING WITH
THE TREMENDOUS AUTHORITY THAT
PARENTS OF TEENAGERS USUALLY
HAVE TO EXERCISE, BUILT WE CAN
ONLY ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH.
I KNOW THAT MY SON IS GENERALLY
DEALING WITH ABOUT SEVEN HOURS
OF SLEEP, MAYBE EIGHT HOURS A
SLEEP ON A GOOD NIGHT.
IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
I TEND TO LOOK AT THIS NOT
ONLY -- I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT
THE SCIENCE, I DON'T WANT TO
REPEAT THE SURVEY DATA THAT DEB
AND OTHER PARENTS ALREADY HAVE
EXPLAINED WHICH I THINK VERY
NICELY ADDRESSES SOME OF THE
COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS THAT
HAVE BEEN RAISED.
BUT I'D LIKE TO DEAL WITH SOME
OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT I
FEEL WE'RE FACING.
ONE OF THOSE IS THIS NOTION THAT
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY
INFORMED AND EDUCATED BEFORE WE
CAN MAKE A CHANGE.
WE SHOULD HAVE OUTREACH.
WE SHOULD HAVE EDUCATION.
WE SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES SHOULDN'T
HAVE FOUR OR FIVE OR SIX YEARS
OF IT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE BEEN PARENTS OF
TWO PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN, OUR
KIDS HAVE GONE DIFFERENT START
TIMES ALL THE TIME.
I DEALT WITH THE 7:20, THE 8:30,
THE 89:30, ALL HAVE THEIR PLUSES
AND MINUSES.
NEVER DID ANYONE COME TO US SAY,
WE NEED TO EDUCATE YOU AND
DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU AND SEE IF
YOU CAN POSSIBLY HANDLE THE
ISSUE OF TWO DIFFERENT CHILDREN
GOING TO SCHOOL AT 7:20 AND
9:30.
IT JUST HAPPENS.
THERE WAS NO DEEP CONCERN
EXPRESSED ABOUT THAT.
SO, I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE
SOME ANALYSIS, SHOULD BE THIS
EDUCATION OF COURSE FOR THE MOST
PART WE ALREADY KNOW THE MOST
IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH IS
THAT OUR KIDS ON THE WHOLE, BY
AND LARGE, WILL DO BETTER IF WE
START SCHOOL LATER.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE
SOME BENEFITS AND SOME
DIFFICULTY AT THE END OF THE
DATE WHEN YOU CHANGE THE TIME.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART OVER TIME
THOSE EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES AND JOBS AND VARIOUS
OTHER THINGS WILL LEARN TO
ACCOMMODATE THEMSELVES TO THE
CHANGE IN TIME.
MAY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE M.
PEOPLE MAY BE INCONVENIENCED.
AGAIN, PUBLIC POLICY IS ADOPTED
NOT BECAUSE OF THE OCCASIONAL
DIFFICULTY BUT RESPONSE TO THE
QUESTION, WHAT WILL THE OVERALL
BENEFITS BE.
HERE IT SEEMS TO ME QUITE IN
DISTINCTION TO MANY OTHER PUBLIC
POLICIES THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE TO
CONSIDER, THERE IS ALREADY
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF THE
BENEFITS.
I AM PLEASED ALSO TODAY TO HEAR
FROM THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
FOLKS, ONE OF WHOM I THINK IS
STILL HERE WITH US TODAY.
BUT I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
THAT THERE WAS NO PRESENTATION
ALREADY INDICATING WITH SOME
SPECIFICITY HOW THIS MIGHT BE
PURSUED.
HOW THE DIFFICULTIES WOULD BE
OVERCOME, WHAT THE COSTS WOULD
BE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT
THERE'S A SERIOUS REVIEW GOING
ON THAT ACTUALLY HAS A CLOCK
ASSOCIATED WITH IT, NEVER MIND
OUR KIDS' START TIME.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL,
MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
MAYBE THE MAYOR, PERHAPS THESE
ISSUES COULD BE ATTACHED TO A
TIMELINE SO THAT WE COULD
ACTUALLY START PILOTING CHANGE
REALLY SOON.
IF THAT WORKS OUT HELPS US
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE KINKS ARE
MAYBE MOVE TO SYSTEM-WIDE 8:30
OR LATER START.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE FOR THE
BENEFIT OF OUR KIDS.
THAT AFTER ALL IS I THINK WHAT
WE'RE ALL WORKING ON AND ALL
DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD.
>> MY NAME IS DAVE, I HAVE A SON
IN SCHOOL.
A NUMBER OF US -- INITIALLY
SPOKE TO BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
TALK ABOUT THE LOGISTICS
INVOLVED.
I CAME AWAY DISMAYED AND I
THOUGHT THAT THE CITY COULD NOT
SURVIVE A CHANGE.
I UNDERSTAND --
[ INAUDIBLE ]
I CAME AWAY ON A PRACTICAL
BASIS, I TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE
AND I COULD SEE ALL OF THE
REASONS THAT WHY -- BECAUSE OF
CONVENIENCE.
IN MY BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE, I
GOT AHOLD OF THE SUMMARIES THAT
BEING CIRCULATED I SAT DOWN AND
READ THE RESEARCH.
THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING BECAUSE
THIS IS NOT SOME -- THESE ARE
THE CDC, THESE ARE AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS THIS IS
VERY SERIOUS AND PROFESSIONAL
RESEARCH AND I REALIZE THAT THE
WAY TO REFUTE MEDICAL RESEARCH
IS PART OF OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM REFUTE IT WITH OTHER
MEDICAL RESEARCH.
I SEARCHED ON THAT.
COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING.
FIND ANY OPPOSING RESEARCH THAT
DENIED.
I REALIZED THAT REGARDLESS OF
THE CONVENIENCE, REGARDLESS OF
SPORTS AND WORK, WE NEED
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE FOR SOCIETY
THAT IT BEGINS WITH THE
CHILDREN.
IT BEGINS WITH THE HEALTHY
ATTITUDE, BUT THE BEST THAT WE
KNOW HIGHWAY TO DO AND WE
STRUCTURE OUR SOCIETY BACKWARDS
PERHAPS TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT WE
KNOW IS BEST FOR THE CHILDREN.
THAT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THAT'S EASY TO SAY.
I KNOW IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF WORK FOR EVERYONE.
HOWEVER, THAT'S THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
LASTLY JUST WANT TO SAY WHEN MY
SON WAS IN 6th GRADE, GOT TO
SCHOOL ONE DAY, WITHOUT SAYING A
WORD THE TEACHER WHO IS NOW
RETIRED, WAS QUITE EXPERIENCED
LOOKED DOWN AT MY SON, HE GOT
LOTS OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT.
TO RECOGNIZE THE LOOK ON A
STUDENT'S FACE WITHOUT ANY WORD
SAID IS PHENOMENAL.
TOOK AN EXPERIENCED TEACH TORE
JUST RECOGNIZE, LOOK, I CAN TELL
THE DIFFERENCE WITHOUT EVEN
TALKING TO THE CHILD, I CAN SEE
THAT HE GOT -- SHE WAS RIGHT.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WE NEED
TO REFINE OUR WHOLE ATTITUDE
LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK
INVOLVED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CLOSING REMARKS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AGAIN IT WAS A PLEASURE TO
PARTNER WITH YOU ON THIS, I ECHO
EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID FROM
THE PARENTS.
RAISE MY HOPE THAT WE CAN TURN
THIS INTO A WORKING SESSION
REALLY ADDRESS THE ANTICIPATED
CHALLENGES BUT COME UP WITH A
PLAN THAT CAN TAKE THOSE INTO
ACCOUNT TO MAKE AN 8:-START
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILOR LaMATTINA?
>> TO BOTH OF YOU, I THINK AFTER
HEARING THE PARENTS AND
PROFESSIONALS THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CHANGE THE START
TIME, MAYBE ALL THE SCHOOLS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT.
BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVE WORKING
SESSION OR RESOLUTION AND WORK
WITH YOU TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A
BRIEF MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE
THAT PRESENTED HERE TODAY THEN
OF COURSE THAT TESTIFIED IN THE
END.
REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE
SAME PAGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
OUTCOMES THAT ARE BEST FOR THE
CHILD AND THE CHILD'S ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE MAKE SURE THAT WE
KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THAT NEED AND
ON THAT GOAL.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING UP
MY SLEEVES WITH MY COLLEAGUES,
AS COSPONSOR OF THIS AND WITH
OTHERS INCLUDENESS COUNCILOR
JACKSON AND COUNCILOR
LaMATTINA TO WORK WITH BOSTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REALLY FIND
WAYS THAT WE CAN COME TO SOME
ANSWERS, COME TO SOME SOLUTIONS
AND CHANGES TO THE WAY THAT
WE'RE DOING THINGS.
I KNOW FOR MYSELF AS WE'VE
EMBARKED UPON THIS, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGES, I THINK I
MENTIONED THIS AT THE BEGINNING
IS THAT WE DON'T DO IT BECAUSE
WE HAVEN'T EVER DONE IT.
HAVEN'T MADE THAT CHANGE.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO
NOT MAKE CHANGES.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE AT EAST BOSTON
HIGH, WHEN WE STARTED TO LOOK AT
CHANGING WHAT WE WERE DOING IN
OUR FIRST PERIOD CLASSROOMS AS A
SCHOOL, REALLY SENT THE WRONG
MESSAGE TO KIDS.
IT DID TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT WE
WILL WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
BUT WHAT WE TOLD THEM IS, ONLY
REALLY CARED ABOUT WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN MATH AND ENGLISH
WHEN WE WERE PUTTING OTHER
PUBLIC MATTERS INTO THE FIRST
PERIOD CLASS CALLING THEM LESS
IMPORTANT.
IT WAS OUR WAY OF ADJUSTING WHAT
WE WERE DOING TO SUIT THE CHILD.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
SESSION WITH THE SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT, ONSLY THEY ARE
CRITICAL PLAYER IN ALL OF THIS.
WILL GIVE US VALUABLE
INFORMATION, THAT VALUABLE
LEADERSHIP AS WE MOVE TO WORKING
SESSION.
I THANK YOU, MORE TO COME.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION THIS
EVENING.