The Northshore School District school board will discuss potential intermediate steps for later high school start times, to be implemented during the 2015-16 school year, at 4 p.m. during its March 10 meeting.

The school board adopted resolution 714 directing a high school start time of no earlier than 8 a.m. by the 2017-18 school year on Jan. 27. The implementation will take place in conjunction with the opening of North Creek High School, grade reconfiguration and associated boundary adjustments.

Resolution 714 also directed consideration of intermediate steps prior to the 2017-18 school year that may provide some levels of relief to current high school start times. The school board has directed the formation of a task force to guide implementation of Resolution 714. However, the 2016-17 school year is the earliest the task force could bring forward recommendations for intermediate steps to provide relief from current high school start times.

During the past several months, the school board has engaged in several discussions about potential intermediate steps available for 2015-16 and has requested and been provided with modeling of several potential scenarios and options. Additional options might also be explored.

The following are current options for consideration in 2015-16 to achieve a later high school start time:

1. Shift all K-12 start and dismissal times 10-20 minutes later

2. Flip junior high and high school start times

3. Implement regional shuttles to enable select students to attend a periods 2-7 high school schedule

4. Expand seventh period course options for students without district-provided transportation

5. Maintain current programs, services and start/dismissal times for 2015-16

Additional information on high school start times is available online at www.nsd.org/hsstarttimes.