By Katelyn S. Irons
Indiana representative Jeffrey Thompson, R-Lizton, has proposed that a committee meet this summer to discuss the benefits of moving the state to the Central time zone. He proposed benefits to the state's economic growth and educational system if the time zone moved back an hour.
"I want to at least look at what's best for 6.5 million people in regards to school safety, school achievement and economic development." said Thompson, who has worked as a state representative since 1988.
Some representatives are still adamant about switching, while others are tired of the debate, according to The Indianapolis Star.
"That decision has been made," said House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, about the proposal to The Indianapolis Star. "There is no reason to rehash it."
Indiana began to observe daylight savings time in 2005. Since then the process to change time zones been in effect at least in some way, according to The Indianapolis Star. Resolutions filed in 2011 and 2012 were shut down in the Indiana House of Representatives.
"The grass-roots Central Time Coalition pushes the issue annually at the Statehouse, arguing that children get on the bus in the dark, schools are delayed in the cold mornings due to bad weather, and nationally televised TV shows are on too late," according to The Indianapolis Star.
Sue Dillon, president of the Central Time Coalition, started the Coalition in 2008 after a teenager from Carmel, Ind. was hit and killed by a school bus in the pre-sunrise darkness, according to USA Today.
"Has (the time zone) proven to be unsafe? You betcha it has," Dillon said. The group claims at least five other school children have died due to the state's change in time.
Hoosiers for Central Time, another group promoting the change, has been requesting the time change since Indiana moved back to the Eastern Standard Time in September of 2007. Incidents of students being run over while walking to school or being abducted before the sun has risen are cited as reasons for needing the switch.
"A switch to Central Time allows a child's natural sleep pattern to align more closely with school hours," said Tim McAboy, assistant professor of education and director of student teaching. "Additionally, it will save educational time with fewer delays, keep students from traveling to school in the dark, and help parents struggling to put children to bed."
Currently, most of Indiana observes time within the Eastern time zone, what the whole of the Eastern seaboard observes. Select areas in northwest and southwest Indiana observe Central time, which is identified with Chicago time.
A great many other states are peaceably divided over the Eastern and Central time zones including Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.
"We've somehow lived with the Eastern Daylight Time for the last eight years," Bosma said. "The crops have risen at the proper time, my cousins tell me the cows still milk daily. I think stability is what makes businesses comfortable, what make families comfortable."
