Naperville D203 agrees to push back new school start times, class changes to 2026-27

Chicago Tribune

11-03-2025

Sweeping changes to the Naperville District 203 school day would not be implemented until the 2026-27 academic year if approved by the school board, administrators said Monday.
Since January, some parents, teachers and students have protested the Innovative School Experience, a proposal to alter the start and end times of elementary, middle and high school and switch to a block schedule format with longer class periods for middle and high school.
Criticism has centered on the district moving too fast with such drastic changes. Teachers need time to plan their curriculum and parents need time to adjust work schedules or secure child care, according to comments made at several board meetings.
If the plan is approved, the recommended changes would now take effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, district officials said at Monday's school board meeting.
A vote on the plan has not been scheduled.
Jayne Willard, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said district administration discussed postponing the changes for a year with union leadership, who agreed that a later implementation would be beneficial.
The district would use the 2025-26 school year to prepare staff for the changes, she said.
'By providing ongoing targeted professional development, we will ensure that staff have the resources, training and support needed for a smooth and effective transition in 2026-27,' Willard said.
The updated timeline also allows time to settle collective bargaining agreements as the Naperville Unit Education Association's contract expires June 30, district documents said.
District administrators said their proposal is rooted in best educational practices and backed by research. The plan will help the district reach some of its goals such as improving math scores, increasing a sense of belonging, decreasing tardies, reducing chronic absenteeism and closing the achievement gap, they said.
'We are not innovating for the sake of just innovation,' Superintendent Dan Bridges said. 'But rather, these proposals reflect the identified and shared goals outlined in our strategic blueprint. Deep thought and consideration has gone into the recommendations brought forward for both the experience in our classrooms and for the operational improvements needed to fully optimize how our time is spent.'
Key components of the plan include adding 15 minutes to the elementary school day, increasing math instruction time at the middle school level to help bridge achievement gaps, having longer and more in-depth classes for middle and high school students and providing more instructional support time.
To address supervision challenges and ensure students arrive to school as close to the start time as possible, the district would shift the start and end times to the student day.
Under the proposal, elementary school would move from an 8:15 a.m. start to a 7:45 a.m. start, while middle school would start 50 minutes later, moving from an 8 a.m. start to 8:50 a.m.
The high school day would be shorter and start later. It currently runs from 7:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. If the plan is adopted, school would start at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m.
Officials pointed to nearby school districts, which have implemented similar changes.
Both West Aurora School District 129 and Elgin School District U-46 last month approved extending its elementary school day and shifting start and end times to those similar to District 203's proposal. Glenbard Township High School District 87 recently moved to a block schedule. The administration is also following a proposed bill in Springfield that, if approved, would prohibit high school from having a start time earlier than 8:45 a.m.
The district has exhausted every scenario for changing its start and end times taking into consideration extracurricular activities, students who have after-school jobs and research into adolescent sleep times. Adding more buses is not possible at this time, officials said.
Allison Boutet, assistant superintendent of administrative services, said some high school students currently get on the bus at 6:10 a.m. and classes don't start until 7:45 a.m. Some bus riders in middle school now get on the bus at 6:29 a.m., about 90 minutes before the start of their school day, she said.
Board President Kristine Gericke said while no plan would be perfect, the one on the table is the 'right proposal.' She said she doesn't like students wasting time and the current bus schedule where students are asked to wake up early only to sit and wait for school to start is disrespectful.
'The word ethical has come up a couple of times, and I don't believe some of the current things as they stand are doing right by our students and are ethical,' Gericke said.
Board members said they still have concerns over how the changes will affect families and whether they will be burdened with additional child care costs.
Board member Donna Wandke said the administration still needs to convince the greater community and staff that the plan is the best for the district.
'More eyes on it, more people understanding it, yes makes it more difficult to come to an agreement, but also makes it better and stronger,' she said.
Board member Charles Cush likened the plan to a space launch and wanted to ensure all the district's stakeholders, including administration, the school board, teachers, staff, parents and students, gave their approval before implementation.
'I just don't think we have that right now,' Cush said. 'I think there are several concerns out there.'