Intermediate (5Th and 6Th Grade) 7:45 Am 2:25 Pm

At its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on May 1, 2017, the Jenks Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 to approve new school start times for the 2017-18 school year. The new start times are as follows:

Intermediate (5th and 6th grade) – 7:45 am – 2:25 pm

Elementary (Pre-K – 4th grade) – 8:30 am – 3:10 pm

Middle School/High School (7th -12th grade) – 9:15 am – 3:55 pm

*The start time for Pre-K has yet to be determined.

Why was the decision made to change start times?

Start times are changing to reduce overcrowding on buses and to save the District a significant amount of money on transportation costs. In order to address these safety concerns, and to move forward with the current two-tier system, Jenks Public Schools would need to purchase an additional 12 buses at a cost of approximately $1.3 million. The District would also need to hire more bus drivers, incurring further expenses for salaries and training.

The transition to a three-tier start time system reduces the number of buses and drivers required to safely transport students to and from their school sites.The switch to a three-tier system is the most fiscally responsible solution to address student safety, the number one priority for Jenks Public Schools.

Why was this option chosen?

As a District driven by data and research, Jenks Public Schools strives to act in the best interest of its students. The research regarding school start times and the ideal amount of sleep for students clearly demonstrated a need for adolescents to get more sleep, and therefore, start school later in the morning. Teenage students at schools with later start times consistently show improvement in their grades and overall alertness, as well as a reduction in traffic accidents, and fewer cases of depression and anxiety. At the same time, by moving up the start of the school day for elementary and intermediate students, research indicates fewer behavioral problems in the classroom and on the bus.

This option is also favorable because having the intermediate schools stand alone with their own start time will create shorter bus routes and allow for later pick up times from bus stops. Also, this option places adolescent and pre-adolescent students at start times which reflect the best opportunity for greatest academic success, and falls into compliance with federal transportation standards regarding the number of students on buses.

The decision to make these changes certainly carries a variety of implications, and Jenks Public Schools is committed to working with students, parents, teachers, coaches, and all District stakeholders, to identify solutions and navigate this transition.

How did JPS Board members arrive at this decision?

During the fall semester, the JPS Administrative Leadership Team first discussed the issue and made the decision to change to a three-tier system in light of cuts to the District budget, as well as the ongoing challenges with the shortage of bus drivers in the Tulsa area and across the nation. In February, a large task force consisting of approximately 100 people – parents, staff members, and administrators – was formed to evaluate research on school start times and to identify the possible pros and cons of five viable options for JPS start times. Members of the task force represented students in multiple grades, extracurricular activities, before and after care, and all school sites. The task force was asked to complete a rubric based on six variables – student safety, sleep research, student behaviors, extracurricular activities, impact on families, and health and wellness – and was asked to vote on the most favorable and least favorable start time options. The same information discussed by members of the task force was shared with members of the Board of Education in order to better inform their decision. The Board of Education held two meetings to listen and learn about the driving and restraining forces surrounding each start time option. Board members were also presented with hundreds of comments from students, parents, and staff members. All information was carefully considered by the Board of Education members.