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Committee approves high school improvement plan; member urges review of start times for student mental health
Summary
The committee unanimously approved the Whitman-Hanson High School improvement plan after revisions to make goals more measurable. Committee member Ms. Blackman urged consideration of later start times, citing pediatric guidance and mental-health concerns; administrators said start times are a district-level, negotiated matter.
The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee unanimously approved the high school’s School Improvement Plan after the high school council revised goals to be more measurable and focused.
During discussion, Ms. Blackman, a school committee member, raised concerns about high school start times and student mental health, saying, "the American Pediatrics Society and every viable, measurable, child mental health expert says that our start time is too early" and asked the committee to consider opening space over the summer to convene parents and pursue later start times.
Dr. Jones clarified that start times and negotiated contract items are district-level decisions and that the improvement plan itself focuses on goals within the school day; if a change to start times were proposed it would be reflected via handbook processes and collective bargaining as appropriate.
Committee members praised the revisions to the improvement plan for clearer SMART-style goals. After discussion the committee voted to accept the high school plan; the meeting record shows the vote passed unanimously.
Next steps: the adopted plan will guide measurable goals at the high school; any change to start times would require broader district-level negotiations and further committee review.
