Orange County school leaders to discuss proposed change in school start times

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orange County School Board will meet Thursday afternoon to discuss the possibility of pushing back school start times for high school students for next year.

The meeting, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., will take a deeper dive into the debate, but no decision will be made.

Some parents Channel 9 spoke with said they’re open to the proposal because it will allow students to sleep longer.

Parent Jennifer Vega, whose son attends Timber Creek High School, said the early mornings can be a struggle for her 10th-grade student.

“He showers, he gets something to eat, and by 5:10, 5:15, he’s out the door,” she said. “For one, it teaches them responsibilities and goals in life on how to be responsible, and [on] the other hand, it is too early for him because he’s still young and he’s still got that youngness in him.”

Parent Roxanna Cabrera, whose son is in his final year of middle school, said the earlier wake up time is concerning.

“He wakes up at 8 o’clock right now,” she said. “But he’s, like, whining about next year, [having] to be at school at like 7 o’clock. So he’s saying, ‘Oh, I don’t want to.’ But rules are rules.”

Among the concerns that will be discussed Thursday is how a possible time change could affect transportation.

Giving students a bit more shuteye could require additional busing, which could be expensive.

Cox Media Group