Slightly later start time planned for Pinellas high schools

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Next school year, most high school students in Pinellas County will likely head to class a little later, but a group of parents is frustrated, saying a 15-minute delay is not enough.

Currently, Pinellas high schools start at 7:05 a.m.  For months, parents like Dawn Burke have been complaining to the school board saying that’s too early.  

“For my children, I have two high school students and it’s just killing us, we are just exhausted all of the time, we get up at 5:30 a.m. to get everyone ready for school and it’s just unreasonable,” Burke said.

The group of parents cited a recommendation from the American Medical Association saying a later start time would be healthier for teens.

The board heard their complaints and over the last two months has been researching and investigating.  They are expected to vote soon on moving the start time 15 minutes later from 7:05 a.m. to 7:20 a.m.

However, Lakewood, Gibbs, Dixie Hollins and Boca Ciega high schools would all remain at at 7:05 a.m. start time, because they get out earlier.

A group of parents including Burke were pushing for 8:30 a.m., however Rene Flowers, the chair of the Pinellas School Board, says many parents and students thought 8:30 a.m. was too late.

“Those students do not want a later start time. Many of them have after-school activities, many of them are student athletes,” Flowers said.

Ultimately the board says it comes down to safety and traffic congestion.  Pinellas is the most densely populated county in Florida.   Board members want the buses off the roadway before the 8 to 9 o’clock rush hour.

The school board will make their final vote on the issue in April.