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Two months into the new school year, school administrators say new school start times seem to be having the intended effects on education, with more elementary and high school students alert for greater portions of the school day.

At the beginning of this school year, Juneau-Douglas High School and Thunder Mountain High School moved from an 8 a.m. start time to 9:15 a.m., and elementary schools moved from a 9:15 a.m. start time to 8 a.m. Most elementary schools now end at 2:30 p.m.; JDHS and TMHS finish at 3:45 p.m.

Middle school schedules stayed the same.

School district spokeswoman Kristin Bartlett said the district has gotten feedback both for and against the changes, but that those involved with elementary schools are generally more pleased than those involved with high school.

This is consistent with a telephone survey the school district completed last year, prior to the change, which found wide support of the change for elementary schools, and a lesser level of support - but still support - among high schools.

Gastineau Elementary School Principal Angie Lunda said an earlier start for elementary schools has been positive, educationally.

"Now we can use the entire educational day and they're alert all the way through," she said. "The anecdotal is very positive right now."

Bartlett said the same is true for high schoolers.

"Some teachers are saying, 'Wow, those high school kids - they're awake now and engaged and alert in first period, whereas before they were quiet and subdued,'" she said.

Last year's debate over the changes focused primarily on secondary issues, such as scheduling effects on after school jobs, sports and activities.

Harborview Elementary School fourth-graders Tulio Fontenella and Tim McKenna also said they like having more time on the playground and on the computer after school, but the opposite seems to hold true for high schoolers. Bartlett said the district has gotten lots of negative feedback this year from high schoolers involved with activities.

Because activities start later, many high schoolers start their homework later and get to bed later, she said.

The change also has had at least one unanticipated consequence for high schoolers, with some taking jobs in the morning as opposed to the afternoon, said TMHS Principal Patti Bippus.

Some high school students are also playing open gym baseball, wrestling and basketball in the mornings, and zero periods no longer start before 7 a.m.

Bippus said feedback seems balanced between positive and negative, but it's still only a quarter into the school year.

"It's breaking a pattern our city has had for years and years and years - people are still adjusting to it," she said.

The changed times will be incorporated in the school district's next telephone survey next spring.

• Contact reporter Mary Catharine Martin at 523-2276 or maryc.martin@juneauempire.com.