Superintendent Damion Macioci sent an email to West Essex students on Nov. 15, informing them that the district was considering whether to change the official start time of the school day. The email asked students if they were interested in joining a committee to give input on how the change may impact students’ classes, extracurriculars and daily routines. The committee will be made of students, parents and staff to ensure a variety of perspectives are accounted for in this momentous
decision.
Members of the West Essex community wonder when the change would be implemented, should it be approved.
“I anticipate one committee meeting will occur prior to Winter Recess, and follow-up meetings will follow sometime between January and June,” Macioci said. “Meetings may be monthly or every other month, depending on the need.”
Thus, it appears that nothing will be changing until at least the 2025-2026 school year.
The district began considering pushing start times due to the copious amount of research supporting the move, Macioci said. He cited research done by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, as well as other articles, to explain the potential benefits West Essex students could experience.
There has also been a growing trend in which neighboring high schools start after 8 a.m. In the past year, there are at least five districts in the surrounding area that have switched to a later start time. West Essex is open to considering following suit, but there are implications to consider. One obvious obstacle to the implementation of this change is that it might push the start times of sports practices and games, which has the potential to change the day-to-day lives of all members of the West Essex community.
Because of this, Principal Dr. Kimberly Westervelt explained, the committee will include student-athletes, coaches and parents of student-athletes. The district believes it is important to hear the opinions of parents who have to pick their children up later and coaches who would be away from their own families until later at night when coming to this decision.
Additionally, Dr. Westervelt explained that the buses, which are also needed for the elementary schools, are another factor that has been holding the district back from making this change. Because West Essex is only a Grade 7-12 district, they cannot force elementary schools in North Caldwell, Fairfield, Essex Fells and Roseland to comply with their start time changes. The four sending districts wou
ld have to be open to allowing the middle and high school the flexibility of a later start time.
“I hope the committee can come to a consensus of start time that is a good, reasonable time for high-schoolers,” Dr. Westervelt said.
While the members of the committee have not been selected and meeting dates have not yet been set, the copious amounts of research done by administration suggest that West Essex is seriously considering making this change. The committee members, upon selection, will create a survey that will give a voice to the wider West Essex community. Until then, students, teachers and parents anxiously await additional information and the district will continue with its first bell at 7:42 a.m.
“Anytime an important topic or issue is being looked at, I feel it’s best to utilize a committee,” Macioci said. “This approach allows for all stakeholders to be included in the process.”
