School board reaches decision regarding school times

School board reaches decision regarding school times

After many years of debate, the Fairfax County school board reached a decision about the controversial topic of school start times on Oct. 23.

The new times for FCPS high schools will be enacted in the 2015-16 school year. School will begin around 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 2:45 p.m. The plan will cost the school board 4.9 million dollars.

The decision has left both students and staff with mixed feelings.

“I like it because I like to sleep,” junior Aarti Bhandari said. “But I don’t like it because if you have to stay after to do a club or a sport, you will just end up staying up later to finish homework.”

In a poll of 100 students and staff members, 41 approved and 59 disagreed with the start time decision.

“It will give me more time to get my beauty rest and I’ll feel more refreshed in the morning,” junior Lindsey Daniels said.

Upperclassman who drive fear that traffic will become a major issue.

“The later times are just going to put drivers in more rush hour traffic,” junior Nicole Baker said.

Safety and security worker Tom Cook does not believe that the change was necessary.

“Personally I disapprove,” Cook said. “It’s only a 40 minute difference and I believe students will just stay up later.”

Even though they will not experience the change, seniors still have an opinion about the decision.

“If I was still in high school when this started, I wouldn’t be happy,” senior Jake Anders said. “After school activities will get pushed back and I’d just get less sleep.”