Latest School Start Time Petition Gains Ground

The latest petition to change public schools to a later start time met its first goal to get 500 names with some help from some Dunedin signers.

"As the Dad of a 16-year-old, who I literally have to drag out of bed each morning, I endorse this change wholeheartedly. As I drive him to school in the dark I see students walking and crossing the street, being barely visible to passing vehicles. Obviously the safety and well being of our youth is more important than the annoyance of having to implement scheduling changes," wrote Dennis Shaw, No. 308 on the list.

The petition to set a national minimum start time for public high school still needs more names before being sent to the Senate, House of Representatives and the President.

"Children should not be going to school at 7 in the dark. It is unsafe and unhealthy for them. Where is all the lottery money that was going to the schools?" Denise of Dunedin, No. 273 on the list, wrote.

, who started a , got an email from SignOn.org about starting the new petition. 

"It seemed like a shame to waste the momentum the first petition generated, and the publicity that was just starting up when the ," she posted about the second petition. 

Snider is excited the latest effort reached a goal of 500 names.

"Thanks to the many who have signed so far," Snider posted Monday (Nov. 14). "Please keep spreading the word."

Here is a link to the signon.org petition.