POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Before making a final decision on what the new school start times will be, the Polk County school district is giving residents a chance to weigh in.

The Polk County District Advisory Council, a volunteer-based group, is hosting a series of town hall style meetings where experts in education and school operations will answer questions and residents can give their feedback.

In order to comply with Florida House Bill 733 that was passed last year, all Florida school districts must start middle school classes after 8 a.m. and high school classes at 8:30 a.m. or later. The changes will be effective for the start of the 2026 school year.

Haines City High School teacher Patrick Bentley feels lawmakers didn’t listen to all sides of the argument when making this change. He agrees while some high school students start their day tired, there are many repercussions for having the county's oldest students start almost two hours later than they currently do.

“High school is the busiest after school group, clubs, sports, some if not all students work,” he said.

Bentley worries high school athletes will be pulled early from classes so they can make it to games and working students won’t get home until late into the night.

For younger students, dark bus stops and childcare issues top his list of concerns.

“Even though the law left out elementary schools, the only viable option is to move elementary schools first,” he said. “Which means our youngest and most vulnerable kids are at the pitch black bus stops in the morning. Then they’re the first kids home instead of a high schooler to receive their kindergarten brother, for example.”

Monday’s meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Jim Miles Professional Development Center, 4270 Wallace Rd. in Lakeland.