Good afternoon,
In 2023, Florida passed a law (HB 733) requiring middle schools to start after 8:00am (already doing that) and high schools to start after 8:30am.  The law was updated in 2025 (SB 296) which gives the District School Board the flexibility to decide what is best for our county.  

The Liberty County School Board will need to make a decision before June 1st and desires your input.

Impacts could Include:
1.  Because of the mandate for high schools and our bus transportation schedules, we can't have different start times at each school.  ALL Schools would have to start at the same time after 8:30am.
2.  Drop-offs in the morning would be delayed as well with the schools not being able to take kids in until closer to 7:50am-8:00am.
3.  Parents who work out of the county (primarily state workers) and drop off their kids on their way to Tallahassee would be delayed getting to work by approximately 30 minutes in the morning.  Again, drop off times would be closer to 8:00am for the 8:30am or later start time.
4.  Later dismissal for students may impact after school jobs, picking up younger siblings, and extra-curricular activities (ball practices).

The purpose for the statutory change in 2023 was made for the purpose of giving high school students more time to sleep. The purpose for the update in 2025 is to let the districts decide what they feel is best for their communities.  

My opinion:  If it's not broke, don't fix it.  Delaying the school day to allow for more sleep could be easily fixed by parents making sure that it is done at home.  I totally trust parents to take complete care of the sleep needs of their kids.  I believe students need to get home as soon as possible after school to be with their families.  That extra 30 minutes at the end of the school day will make the day longer for staff and students ready to get home after school and practices.  

What say you?  Please fill out the survey by Friday, May 8th.  We want to hear from you!

Go Panthers and Go Dawgs...go to sleep at a reasonable hour! 😁

Sincerely,
Kyle Peddie
Liberty County Superintendent of Schools