Officials with the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP are speaking out against new start times implemented in Des Moines schools.Parents and NAACP representatives came to the Des Moines Public School Board meeting Tuesday to ask for a repeal of new school start times for the district. In December, the district chose to implement an earlier 7:30 a.m. start time for elementary students. Middle and high school students will start 45 minutes later than usual.“We are very concerned (that) with a 7:30 a.m. start time children will be up in the dark either catching a bus or walking to school,” said Betty Andrews, with Iowa-Nebraska NAACP.Board members said the start times would benefit students and improve learning, but some Des Moines parents disagree.“It’s not about what we can do,” Des Moines parent Akil Clark said. “It’s about what we should do to benefit the students.”“The transition is very difficult,” Des Moines parent Jasmine Brooks said. “Especially when you have kids who haven’t been in preschool, day care or any type of school setting before.”The NAACP said shifting school start times could be difficult for parents and low-income families economically because they will have to pay for extra day care or even leave work to pick up their kids. Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Thomas Ahart said the school district reached out to parents to ask their opinions and that it continues to work on a solution for everyone. “We will be having more discussions on this,” Ahart said. “Our goal ultimately is to improve outcomes for every single one of our students.”The new start times are scheduled to begin in fall 2018.