Letter to the Editor,
After watching the League of Women Voters BOE candidate debates, I was struck by the responses from a candidate regarding the process that allowed us to get to the successful implementation of the Later School Start time initiative. To characterize it in any way as a process that ran as it should or indicate that this candidate analyzed the data or in any way was responsive to a large swath of parents is hard to believe.
We have arrived at the current scenario only after hundreds of unanswered cries to be heard, getting nearly a thousand signatures, and a divisive referendum. Is that the only way to get a compromise for our children? The start time process only reinforces the need for greater transparency and avenues for parental input. This candidate did not respond to or even acknowledge any of the hundred emails he received and fought this fair compromise to the very end. Only two members of the board at that time responded and asked probing questions, acknowledging our legitimate concerns. Dionna Carlson and Bob Naughton. That should be noted, and recognition and appreciation should be given to those members and the administration for the success of the Start Time initiative.
Of course, that was confirmed through a FOI request (which was performed) and can be easily seen on BOE meeting videos. I encourage you to watch any of the school start time BOE videos and assess for yourselves before giving credit to those who would claim it.
