1/23/2017 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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4 Board of Selectmen Minutes January 23, 2017 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Discussion with School Committee Chairman Don Myers and Superintendent Patricia DeBoer: Financial impact of potential change in school start time: Patricia DeBoer, the School Superintendent was in attendance with Don Myers, the Chairman of the School Committee to review the proposal to implement a later start time to allow developing adolescents to gain additional sleep time. The Mashpee School Committee is considering whether to start school approximately one hour later beginning in the fall. For transparency, it was disclosed the Selectmen have been receiving communication from parents regarding a survey that was transmitted to consider extending the start time by 45 minutes, which would create a roll-back in transportation, and the need to offer early-morning child care for parents of younger aged children. The early-morning program is being considered for parents of elementary school students at no cost. The School Department in year one of the early-morning program projects this initiative to cost $20,000. During a time of fiscal constraints, the Town has been diligently moving forward within the constraints of a tight budgetary process for fiscal year 2018. Realizing this is an operational decision of the School Department, the Board of Selectmen for transparency requested the School Committee detail the long term ramifications of this proposal. Mr. Myers indicated in full disclosure, the objective is to provide the best learning education in the Town of Mashpee. It was explained that a seventeen member task force has studied the implementation of a later start time for over a year. A survey with the affected elementary age group was conducted to determine how many families would need to access the before school program. Results of the survey have indicated there are a great deal of families in need of child care if the later start time was realized. This now creates a significant impact to the school, and currently the School Committee is contemplating the feasibility of this proposal as the initial cost projection is most likely to increase. The before school program is under consideration in partnership the Recreation Department's program, and it is intended to be offered as a structured program with licensed individuals. Transportation is also a concern. Bus routes may be consolidated to ensure the efficiency of the program.