All Pennsbury community members are invited to share their feedback. Please email starttimes@pennsburysd.org.

School Start Time Survey
In October 2021, Pennsbury School District surveyed members of the Pennsbury Community about school start times. Review the results of the survey here.

Rationale
The Pennsbury School District is committed to promoting the safety, academic achievement, and mental and physical health of our students. Over the past several years, in particular, mounting scientific evidence reveals that chronic adolescent sleep loss has become a public health issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and the National Sleep Foundation all recommend later school start times for adolescent students.

Purpose
In alignment with the Board-approved 2020-2023 Pennsbury Comprehensive Plan that states we will “investigate changing school start times” in relation to Student Supports, the School District formed a committee of stakeholders to examine this topic. Members of the committee are listed below. School districts across the state, many of them located close by, are also examining the prospect of changing school start times in order to allow for a later schedule for high school students. As the Pennsbury committee continues its work, we encourage all District stakeholders to investigate the resources posted at the bottom of this page.

Progress
Before the COVID-19 school closure, two 90-minute meetings took place, and more are scheduled. An update will be provided at the June 18, 2020, School Board Action Meeting, and a Community Forum is planned for Fall 2020. It is hoped that a final recommendation will be shared with the School Board by the end of 2020. To share feedback with the committee, use the email link posted to the right.

Members of the School Start Time Committee (NOTE: Titles were current during the 2019-2020 school year.)

School Board
Howard Goldberg 
Gary Sanderson
Christine Toy-Dragoni
Debra Wachspress

Parents/Guardians
Elizabeth Beckelman, PTO President, Afton Elementary School
Carolyn Fogel, PTO President, Pennwood Middle School
Sumana Kanubaddi, PTO Co-President, Quarry Hill Elementary School
Kathleen Kolanko, PTO Co-President, Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School
Joanie Layden, PTO President, Makefield Elementary School
Jane O’Neill, PTO President, Walt Disney Elementary School
Michelle Smith, PTO Co-President, Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School
Lauren Stout, PTO Co-President, Charles Boehm Middle School
Amy Waters, PTO President, Pennsbury High School 

Community Partner
Charles Stough, CEO, KidsCare

District Employees
Dr. Elizabeth Aldridge, Director of Student Services
Christopher Becker, Principal, William Penn Middle School
Christopher Berdnik, Chief Financial Officer
Michelle Corbett, 1st Grade Teacher, Afton Elementary School
Michael Dumin, Director of Facilities 
Richard Fry, Assistant Principal, PHS West
Dr. William Gretzula, Superintendent
Barbara Hidalgo, Principal, Penn Valley Elementary School
Colleen Jones, Kindergarten Teacher, Afton Elementary School
Vince Jones, Guidance Counselor, William Penn Middle School
Matthew Kolowajtis, Custodian, PHS East
Ann Langtry, Supervisor of Communication Strategies
Marla Lipkin, Secretary to the Principal, PHS East
Derek Majikas, Principal, Pennwood Middle School
Pamela Martino, 6th Grade Math & Language Arts Teacher, William Penn MS
Donna McCormick-Miller, Principal, Makefield Elementary School
Reggie Meadows, Principal, PHS East
Mary-Margaret Pannick, Supervisor of Assessment/Federal Programs
Bettie Ann Rarrick, Director of Human Resources
David Reimschussel, Music Teacher, PHS West 
Dr. Theresa Ricci, Director of Secondary Education
David Schwind, Assistant Principal, Charles Boehm Middle School
Michele Spack, Director of Elementary Education
Greg Stoloski, Social Studies Teacher, PHS West
Lou Sudholz, Assistant Principal/ Athletic Coordinator, PHS West
Melanie Talbert, Paraprofessional, William Penn Middle School
Robert Talbert, Bus Driver, Transportation
Charles Williams, Director of Transportation