LAPS News:
Last week, the Los Alamos School Board, with the help of third party facilitator New Mexico First, hosted eight successful meetings with students, parents, employees and community members to discuss possible changes in school start time.
Any change would be implemented beginning in August 2018.
The input sessions were designed to capture various stakeholder groups and record their thoughts, opinions and concerns regarding possible changes to school start and end times.
Of note, the meetings were well-attended by School Board members. Los Alamos High School Principal Carter Payne called the meetings “skillfully facilitated” and is looking forward to reading the summary report from New Mexico First.
Following the community meetings, the next steps include compiling the feedback and survey data into a final report, which the Board will review Nov. 30. Many thoughtful pros and cons were brought forth, and continue to pour in, that the Board will carefully consider. Staff from Los Alamos High School are also working on options for more student flexibility within the current schedule.
The first three focus areas for Los Alamos Public Schools are student well-being, student learning, and teacher and staff well-being and excellence which was the catalyst for organizing these interactive listening sessions. Keeping this in mind, the School Board will decide what they believe is best for students.
Los Alamos Public Schools, along with school districts around the country, are looking closely at adjusting school start times to better align with data on the amount of time students need to sleep and when.
It’s not too late to voice an opinion; the electronic comment box will be open until Nov. 6. Check out the link conveniently found on the home page of the LAPS website or click here. Those wanting to know more about the details of this proposal can also view the background report and the bus transportation times for elementary, middle and high school.
The public also is encouraged to attend the School Board Work Session at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 30 at Aspen Elementary School.