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Trustees direct staff to develop later-start schedule options after reviewing SB 328 and surveys
Summary
After reviewing two community surveys and state rules (SB 328), the board asked staff to develop schedule options and a cost-benefit assessment for later high-school start times and to report back on a set timetable.
The Snowline Joint Unified board directed district staff to develop concrete scheduling options and a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate later start times for middle and high schools.
Trustees heard background material, including two Hanover Research surveys (2019 and 2023) that asked students, parents and staff whether the district should change start times. Board members reviewed aggregate results showing many students said they would use later start time for more sleep; staff noted that parents, staff and students gave mixed responses when specific schedule options were proposed. Trustees also heard a legal framing: Senate Bill 328 sets middle-school start times no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high-school start times no earlier than 8:30 a.m., unless a district meets a rural exemption (Snowline has a rural designation under some state programs). That rural designation provides the district an option to remain on its current schedule without seeking a formal waiver.
Superintendent Dr. Holman and staff recommended a structured approach: staff will design one or more feasible schedule options (showing bus routing, staffing and estimated costs), run a cost-benefit analysis that includes transportation and personnel impacts, and return with a detailed timeline for community input and formal board consideration. Trustees asked staff to come back with a project schedule (milestones) rather than raising the topic repeatedly in short updates. Several trustees emphasized the need to develop a single clear proposal before asking the community to vote in another survey.
Student board member Emma spoke about how athletic and extracurricular time factors into her schedule and noted that later starts affect students differently depending on involvement in after-school activities. Trustees said that local athletic and activity scheduling and availability of practice spaces would have to be part of any implementation analysis.
The board did not adopt a new start time; instead it asked staff to produce options, a fiscal and operational analysis, and a proposed timeline for community engagement and a possible public survey at a later date.
