Following more than two hours of discussion among themselves and with administrators from the Mercer Island band and orchestra program, Mercer Island School Board members expressed a willingness to have Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano provide an overview of next steps in the late-start decision process.

Though a motion was offered on the matter at the board’s regular meeting Thursday, Oct. 22, it was later withdrawn, as no motion was offered in June when the board wished for further investigation on later high school start times.

With several members addressing the audience, the board appeared unanimous that the decision should be made by the superintendent. Board directors Dave Myerson and Adair Dingle continued to advocate for later start times, though acknowledged the mechanics of the matter proved complicated and ultimately deferred to the superintendent.

Director Pat Braman stressed she believed it should be a superintendent’s decision. She noted the negative community feedback to later start times in light of neighboring school districts in Bellevue and Seattle appearing to go in the later-start direction.

“I don’t see a need to rush,” Braman said. “I think it’s important for us to take the time, step back and then make the right decision for this group of kids in this school district.”

The band presentation was the latest in the study of potential impacts that the district would face should MISD adopt later school start times. High school band director Parker Bixby, administrative assistant Jennifer McLellan and middle school director David Bentley spoke for over an hour about the conflicts potential scheduling changes posed to the music program.

Bixby said moving music schedules dealt with three main issues: 1) the facilities and limited classroom spaces 2) having six available staff accommodating more than six staffing positions and 3) the complexity of the high school schedule and being able to offer single-section classes.

“Really what we’re talking about in terms of impact is enrollment and quality of instruction,” Bixby said. “We can’t teach them if they’re not in our chairs.”

Data provided in their presentation reflected that of over 2,500 5th through 12th grade students in the district, over 1,000 were in the music program, or 41 percent. Nearly three of every four Mercer Island 5th graders, or 74 percent, are enrolled in music.

GPAs and SAT scores averaged about 9 percent higher among MISD music students than the general district averages.

Of the district’s proposed three scenarios for later start times, two posed negative impacts to the band program. Staggered start times at the elementary school would force elementary music students, who already have class before school starts at IMS, to be at school earlier, with early-morning commute times before sunrise. The scenario with elementary beginning at 8:20 a.m., middle school at 9:10 a.m. and high school at 8:40 a.m. was deemed the least favorable outcome, with scheduling conflicts exacerbated and students likely forced to choose between music and their other activities.

The band administrators offered two recommendations: move forward with the scenario of adding 20 minutes to the end of the elementary day, while leaving the middle school and high school start times the same or wait until Northwood and the expanded IMS are open to allow the program to construct its modified scheduling.

A study session targeted for community taxpayers on the district’s 2020 vision, school construction projects, and replacement levies for 2016 preceded Thursday’s meeting. While the public was given time to ask questions about the fielded topics, no one took up the opportunity.

But there were plenty of interested audience members willing to weigh in on school start times, a topic not included in the session. Eight people addressed start times during the public comment period, with many having to be cut off due to their comments going beyond the three minutes of speaking time allotted each person.

Plano reiterated the recommendation he received in June from the start-time committee to not move start times, which had been his recommendation to the board. At Thursday’s meeting, Plano expressed frustration with how the process had gone since then.

“I think the board [in June]… was very interested in moving forward with looking at this investigation,” he said. “I felt that I didn’t have an opportunity to answer your questions about what alternatives might look like, because no one actually asked me that question.”

Plano said he would provide the board with an overview of next steps in the process at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting.