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Could CPS Students Soon See Later Class Times?

Cincinnati Public Schools is considering changing the start of class times for high school students.  District spokeswoman Lauren Worley says there's no specific proposal yet.

"Research has shown, including from the American Medical Association, that a later school start time is better for high school students," Worley says. "It gives them more opportunity to get a better night's sleep and their brains are better functioning later in the morning."

But she says there are drawbacks, including changes to transportation infrastructure.

"To have enough school buses that can take all of our high school students to school at a later time would require an additional $25 to 50 million, according to Metro. There's also the drawback for students who want to participate in sports or extracurricular activities or get a part-time job after school," she says.

Right now, some CPS classes start as early as 7:30 a.m. There is no specific proposal to change that.

"We're going to take a look at the medical recommendations of why this would be important," Worley says. "We're going to look at the costs. And we're going to look at the impact on students."

There's a public meeting Thursday evening at Mayerson Academy, and the district is asking students for their input.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.