[0:04] Hey everybody, this is Cararissa Kester [0:06] from Stillwater Area Public Schools, [0:08] home of the ponies, and you are [0:09] listening to Pony Voices. On this show, [0:12] we celebrate the amazing people of [0:14] Stillwater Schools and give you an [0:16] insider view of what is happening across [0:18] our district. Not only is our mascot [0:20] unique, so are our stories. So, grab a [0:23] cup of coffee, get comfy, and settle in [0:25] for our latest episode. [0:32] A new school year is just around the [0:34] corner and back to school will look a [0:35] little different for students, staff, [0:37] and families in the Stillwater Area [0:38] Public School District. Our middle and [0:40] high school students get to sleep later. [0:42] Our elementary students will be waking [0:44] up a little bit earlier. Phones and [0:46] devices are being locked up and out of [0:47] sight, and everyone is starting the [0:49] school year a few days earlier. We know [0:51] these shifts come with questions and [0:53] sometimes some strong opinions. So, [0:55] we're sitting down with Superintendent [0:57] Mike Funk to talk about what's changing, [0:59] why it's happening, and what it all [1:01] means for the Pony community. Thanks for [1:03] joining us today, Dr. Funk. [1:05] Thanks. It's great to be here. [1:06] Let's start with one of the bigger [1:08] changes, which I know is one we've been [1:09] talking about in the district for more [1:11] than a decade, start times. This fall, [1:13] our elementary schools will be starting [1:15] an hour earlier so that our middle and [1:17] high schools can start later. What [1:19] prompted the decision to flip-flop [1:21] school start times? I think if you're to [1:23] to scan the Twin Cities metropolitan [1:26] area, Still Water area schools for the [1:29] past number of years has had uh for [1:31] their especially for their secondary [1:33] students has had some of the earliest [1:34] start times really in the metro and in [1:36] Minnesota. And if you look at what [1:38] research says about um what's the best [1:41] time for an adolescent to go to school, [1:43] it's pretty clear that it should be [1:45] after 8:30 um in the morning. And I [1:48] think this past year and the past number [1:49] of years, we've started about 7:40 in [1:51] the in the um high school. Research is [1:55] also pretty clear that um earlier start [1:58] times for our younger students is not as [2:00] impactful on their behaviors and how [2:03] they perform in school. So what we are [2:06] doing is we are realigning ourselves [2:08] with what the research says and one of [2:11] many of our peer districts are doing and [2:13] we're flip-flopping the start time. So I [2:15] believe the elementary will start now [2:17] around 7:45 and our secondary schools uh [2:21] middle and high school 8:35 8:45. So um [2:26] that is a a significant change for some [2:28] people in the community and but we're [2:31] doing it um and we're doing all these …