09-04-2025
Naperville D203 board may vote this month on school hours, block schedule
The Naperville District 203 School Board is likely to vote April 21 on an administration request to adjust school day hours and move towards a block schedule format for middle and high schools, despite opposition from some parents, teachers and students.
Originally, the Innovative School Experience was to start this fall but officials pushed back the timeline to the start of the 2026-27 school year in the wake of pushback, especially from parents who said they needed time to adjust their home and work schedules and from teachers who say they will need to create different lesson plans.
At Monday's school board meeting, Superintendent Dan Bridges said he would like the board to take action on the proposal later this month and direct the administration on the next steps to be taken.
Board member Melissa Kelley Black countered that the board is still receiving complaints about the proposals and she's concerned the district doesn't have support from those the plan would affect. She'd prefer to give it more time, she said.
'It doesn't sound like the community or staff are ready for this so I guess the question is what is the hurry,' she said. 'Our trust with the community, with the staff, with morale, we've taken a hit with this.'
One of the major shifts is the start and end times of the school day for elementary, middle and high school students.
Elementary hours, which now run from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., would switch to 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. under the proposal.
Middle school would change from an 8 a.m. start to an 8:50 start time. It would also end 50 minutes later at 3:40 p.m.
The high school day would start later and be shorter. Instead of 7:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., the day would run from 8:20 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. under the proposal.
District officials want to alter the times so students arrive at school as close as possible to their start times. Currently bus logistics have forced students to arrive at high school as much as an hour before classes start and at middle school a half hour before classes start.
Research also supports later start times for the well-being of adolescents, officials said.
As for the new block schedule for middle and high schools, officials say it will allow students to delve deeper into topics and get more intervention if needed. More time will be devoted to math at the middle school level.
Critics of the plan said changing start and end times to the school days affects all families and their work schedules. Some parents have to leave for work before middle school students would leave for school, prompting the district to explore before-school child care options. Parents also asked if the later release time would allow their children to participate in extracurricular activities, sports or allow time for evening activities.
Questions have been raised about the block schedule as well, with some wondering whether students could stay engaged during longer class periods or if they would have trouble concentrating.
Parent Dan Alamillo said he was concerned the district was addressing the issues raised by finding quick fixes that don't deal with the larger problems.
'Since the proposal was rolled out, we've heard parents, teachers, staffers and students raise concerns about its designs and impacts,' he said. 'The administration has reacted by trying to put Band-Aids on some of the issues that have been raised.'
The district needs to collaborate with the community on the proposal, he said.
'Instead of playing catch-up and trying to piecemeal solutions as you go, the administration should get more minds in the room to work these kinds of problems,' Alamillo said. 'No one is going to be upset if you bring in stakeholders and take the necessary time to ensure whatever changes are needed get done right.'
