Parents rally against early elementary start times

Cape Henlopen parents have organized a petition campaign to reverse a recent change in school start times. In October, Cape Henlopen school board changed its earlier decision and decided to start the district's elementary schools before secondary schools.

“We'd like to engage in a discussion, if the board will allow us,” said Heike Kuska of Lewes.

Kuska said about 15 people – teachers and parents from across the district – have formed a group called Voices for Cape Students. “It's a mix of people,” she said.

Using a change.org petition, the group has gathered about 250 signatures of parents who want elementary schools to start later than secondary schools.

Kuska said the group has handed out fliers to some parents and used word-of-mouth to inform people of the change.

In October, Cape Henlopen school board reversed a July decision, voting 4-3 to start elementary schools before secondary schools. The board made no decision on what time schools will start, but the district transportation supervisor has said he needs about an hour between secondary schools and elementaries in order to have enough buses.

In opposing early start times for elementary schools, Kuska said parents are concerned about students who participate in Academic Challenge and afterschool sports and activities.

About 150 students in Academic Challenge ride a bus to Cape High or the middle schools where they check in for attendance before boarding another bus that takes them to Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown for classes.

“We're looking closely at Academic Challenge and whether the students can make the bus,” she said. “Eight-fifteen is the latest they can leave for Academic Challenge and get there on time.”

Sports and afterschool activities at the high school and middle schools will also be affected by a later start time and dismissal time, she said. The petition states students participating in sports would miss about 33 school days taking into consideration class time missed because of early dismissals.

“There is also a logistical challenge in traffic management when school-release time coincides with guests arriving for 4 p.m. home games,” the petition states.

With the school board's latest start time change, Kuska said, parents fear elementary schools will start earlier than 7:30 a.m.

She said she is not sure how many people will attend the Nov. 12 school board meeting, but she said she expects people will express opinions against early start times for elementary schools.

“They will attend and speak either as public comment or if it's on the agenda,” she said.

The petition is found at www.change.org under Cape Henlopen school board.