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Student advisory reports mixed views on balanced calendar and school start-time changes
Summary
Student advisory representative Daniella Guillem reported that a student poll found 44% in favor, 55% opposed to a balanced calendar change (sample skewed toward freshmen); students raised mixed pros and cons for later start times, citing sports, jobs and sibling transportation concerns.
A Richland High School student representative told the board the district’s student advisory group discussed a proposed balanced calendar and possible adjustments to school start times and reported mixed feedback from students.
Daniella Guillem, a Richland High senior and the student advisory representative, said the student-led brief poll — which primarily sampled freshmen at Richland High School and covered a small number of classes — found about 44% in favor of switching to a balanced calendar and about 55% opposed. Guillem said the sample skewed toward freshmen and likely does not represent a district‑wide consensus; the student who led the poll asked only one to five classes and the advisory group cautioned that the results were a small, informal sample.
On start times, the advisory discussion surfaced tradeoffs: later high‑school start times could benefit students who need more sleep and those with long commutes, but might create issues for students who work, play sports or have family transportation responsibilities (for example, parents who must drop younger siblings earlier). Guillem said the group discussed both pros and cons without reaching a conclusion.
The advisory also discussed graduation credit requirements, possible half‑virtual learning options for some students, summer course offerings to reduce learning gaps, a cell‑phone and badge policy update, and ongoing conversations about bullying and locations where students most notice it.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the poll’s scope; the student representative reiterated that the sample was small and likely limited to classes at Richland High, not a district-wide survey.
The board noted that start-time and calendar changes will be discussed at upcoming meetings and asked staff to present more comprehensive data and community input as part of that process.
