USD232 Change School Hours

This petition is to get the USD232 Board of Education to reconsider the school hours of the elementary schools. The current 8:50 - 3:50 is not a very good fit for younger children. Most younger children get up early and go to bed early. With elementary age kids getting up between 6:30 and 7:00 (times based on parents that I have asked) they have 2 hours until school starts. This is quite a bit of time that is wasted in the morning. Most younger children are wide awake and full of energy in the morning which is a good time to get them to school and have them be wide awake to learn. In the late afternoon, most children are getting tired which makes learning harder. Elementary school kids get home from school around 4:15 for bus riders. These kids then have to do homework, eat dinner, take a bath and go to bed. It leaves very little time for play or extra help with school work. Most Elementary school aged children are in bed by 8:00 pm. By changing the hour to an earlier time such as 7:50 to 2:50, we can allow the kids to be alert and ready to learn for the school day, allow extra time after school for play, extra time for special help with school work, and allow more family time.