Stillwater Area Public Schools will implement three significant changes for the upcoming school year, including flipped start times, an earlier calendar and a bell-to-bell phone-free policy.

Elementary schools will begin classes at 7:45 a.m., an hour earlier than previous years, while middle and high schools will start at 8:35-8:45 a.m. Superintendent Dr. Mike Funk said the change aligns with research showing adolescents perform better with later start times. "If you look at what research says about what's the best time for an adolescent to go to school, it's pretty clear that it should be after 8:30 in the morning," Funk said during a district podcast.

The district also moved its calendar earlier, beginning classes before Labor Day to provide more instructional days before winter break. Students will complete first semester coursework before the holiday break, eliminating the need to take final exams on material learned months earlier. The School Board committed to evaluating the three-year calendar trial through 2027.

A new phone-free policy requires students to secure cell phones, smartwatches and other personal devices during school hours. Funk said the policy addresses student mental health concerns related to social media and constant connectivity. "We look at what are distractions, what causes stress in our students' lives, and a leading cause of stress is access to the internet, access to social media," he said.

The district plans to survey staff, families and students about the changes' effectiveness. Community Education expanded Adventure Club daycare capacity to address childcare needs created by the schedule changes.