The parents of Boston public elementary and middle schools students continue to criticize the school committee's decisions to make start times later for the next school year.
In an attempt to save money on busing and to accommodate the 8 a.m. or later high school start times, K-8 schools would have to start and be released earlier. This would create childcare problems for working parents who would now either have to pick their children up earlier or be forced to spend more money on after-school care.
Former Secretary of Education Paul Reville emphasized the school system’s second role as a daycare center on Boston Public Radio Wednesday. “Beyond any function it performs as an education center, it is a daycare center,” said Reville. “When you change the terms of the daycare agreement, people get upset.”
Reville believes that the thought process behind the later start times is well-intentioned, but changing any aspect of the school system — even something seemingly trivial like start times — can be quite difficult.
“Naturally, it disrupts people's lives, so there's a political response to it,” said Reville.
Parents unhappy with the change still have a chance to have their grievances heard as the school committee will be assessing their decision in January, when they will reach a final verdict on the start times for next school year.
Click the audio player above to hear more from Paul Reville.