NOVI, Mich. (WXYZ) — Teens in the Novi school district are still expected to see later start times to their school days, but the change won't happen until the 2021-2022 school year, the district announced Monday.
The proposed times for the high school would be from 8 a.m. to 2:44 p.m. For the middle school, it would be 8:30 a.m. to 3:11 p.m., which is 45 minutes later than the current start time for both schools.
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The board of education unanimously approved the change on Dec. 19, 2019, with an expected start of fall 2020. However, on Feb. 10, the school board announced that after further discussion, the change in start times will be delayed another year.
"In productive conversations with the teachers, it has become apparent that school start times are but one piece of a larger puzzle," the district said in a letter to parents. "Changing start times is important for our students, but there are other issues that can also have a powerful and meaningful impact on a student’s school day."
Those concerns include:
- Examining the purpose and importance of homework.
- Evaluating potential benefits of alternative schedules at the high school.
- Discussing what grades represent and how they should be reported.
- Exploring our tolerance for and support of students redoing work.
- Connecting class outcomes to formal reporting to parents.
- Examining how we use student accommodations.
- Thinking through the use of technology.
- Exploring our classroom instructional and assessment practices.
The district goes on to say that the delay will allow for more discussion between administration and teachers about the measure would impact all students.
"Start times will be addressed as is required by the contract with the teachers and appropriate and meaningful changes will be agreed upon and made," the district added. "But other non-contractual issues will also be discussed and agreement will be reached on how to move forward with these important items that impact our students."
