Miami-Dade School Board To Consider Starting Classes Later

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – No more buses in the dark.

The Miami-Dade School Board has voted to officially explore later start times for as soon as the next school year.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho tweeted out that they planned to "engage every sector of the community in an honest conversation about this important topic."

.@MDCPS is exploring the establishment of later school start times. We have gathered information and are taking into account scientific evidence, as well as feedback from focus groups conducted. We will now engage in a robust and transparent conversation with the community. pic.twitter.com/NIbDhJOy7r

— Alberto M. Carvalho (@MiamiSup) November 20, 2019

The underlying mission is all about sleep, and getting students more of it.

"I like it, like at this time in the morning it's like too hard for us to like concentrate," said Miami Senior High student Sofia Torres.

"We're waking up really early and were not being able to take our time," said student Mary Ojeda.

Carvalho told CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald that feedback from nearly 1,800 students last year showed that high school students get an average of just five to six hours of sleep a night, well below the recommended eight to 10 hours.

"Waking up in the morning is kind of a struggle, like 7:20 a.m. is kind of early for us because when we get home some people have other activities after school," said student Ghana Oboh.

If changes do happen, no classes would start class before 8 a.m.

Among parents, the reaction was mixed.

"I don't like it because it's better the guys arrive early at home," said one parent.

"It's not enough hours so they have to start early to get all the homework and activities," said Zara Vasquez.

Carvalho said feelings about a change in hours are mixed because it would shift an entire workforce schedule for agencies like the police department and after school programs.

"There will be some challenges and that's why we will spend the next few months speaking with every single entity around the community, from parents to students to teachers, bus drivers, police officers," he said.

The superintendent added that the change could save the school district an estimated $3 million by shortening the windows of pick up and drop off times, buses could be deployed more efficiently, consolidating routes means 40 buses could be pulled.

The district said it will study the issue for a few more months, with a possible vote coming in the spring.