Barrington Schools Explore Idea Of Later Start Time For Some Students

(CBS) -- Teenagers are notorious for not getting enough sleep and having a hard time waking up in the morning.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports one suburban school district is looking at ways to change that.

A laptop and internet access -- every student at Barrington High School has them. Soon, that computer combo could lend itself to something else: flex time for students.

The District 220 Board of Education agreed to study the idea this week, which could include a later start time or staggered start times, combined with online lessons at home.

"One of our strategic focuses in the school district is the optimized learning time for kids," Superintendent Brian Harris says. "Is the starting and ending times for our kids and our programming in line with their biological clock?"

Recent research suggests starting school very early may actually hurt students' ability to learn and sleep. Still, high school senior Katie Olson says she prefers things the way they are now, but sophomore Owen Raymond is open to the idea.

Supt. Harris says there's a lot to work out, including the money involved in busing changes. Parents' feelings are mixed.

The conversation is in its infancy. If the district decides to go ahead with the staggered start times, it wouldn't be implemented until the 2016-17 school year.

Currently, Barrington High School students start class at 7:20 in the morning.