Pinellas Co. parents demand later school start time

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Parents of high school students in Pinellas County are taking a stand for their kids, demanding school start an hour and a half later than it does now.

Currently, high school students are at their desks and ready to learn by 7:05 a.m. Parents say that's too early and want the start time changed to 8:30 a.m.

Dawn Burke has a high school freshman and senior in her household. She is one of several parents who spoke during a Pinellas School Board meeting Tuesday.

“It is way too early,” Burke said. “I have two high school students and it's killing us. We are exhausted all the time. We get up at 5:30 a.m. every morning to get everyone ready for school and it's just unreasonable."

The school board says it comes down to traffic and keeping thousands of buses and cars off the road during peak times.

School board leaders sent the issue to a workshop committee and will hear the issue again at the end of March.