Forcing them up early is futile. Sleeping past noon on weekends doesn't help. But big-district school schedules typically disregard all this. Mixing age levels on the same bus is a no-no even though rural districts do so out of necessity, with little grief. This squanders the taxpayers' money as well as the time and potential of the students.
Vouchers raise the stakes.
Pinellas School Superintendent Howard Hinesley says he and the School Board don't need to be persuaded. But, apparently, many parents do. The district will soon formally survey all parents for the first time regarding school hours. I was concerned to hear that the Transportation Department will shape questions. Hinesley insists that this isn't the tail wagging the dog again.