Manatee County school leaders are requesting an exemption from a state law that would force the district’s high schools to start later in the morning.
On Tuesday, school board members heard from district leaders about how a one-hour change for high schools would “require a massive systemic shift,” and could double transportation needs, exacerbate local traffic and force adjustments in extracurriculars.
The law says middle schools must not start earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. While Manatee County middle schools are already compliant with a 9:20 a.m. start time, high school schedules would require a one-hour adjustment from the current 7:30 a.m. start time…