To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Terry B. Grier, Ed.D.

Date:

June 22, 2007

RE:

2007-08 Instructional School Day Bell Schedules

Transportation staff members review the instructional school day bell schedules annually in an effort to:

• reduce bus costs;
• promote school bus efficiency;
• promote on-time delivery of students;
• meet the minimum of six hours and 40 minutes of instructional time for elementary schools with delivery of students complete at least 15 minutes prior to the start of school; and
• meet the minimum of six hours and 55 minutes of instructional time for middle and high schools with delivery of students complete at least 10 minutes prior to the start of school.

Copies of the proposed bell schedules for 2007-08 are attached and recommended changes or new school bell schedules are highlighted in yellow with red letters.

The proposed bell schedules include the following seven changes:

• The school day start time for Brightwood Elementary has been changed from 7:55 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. with dismissal moved from 2:35 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. This 10 minute change will enable buses which serve Northeast Middle and High schools to have adequate route time for an on-time delivery and of students.

• The Colfax Elementary instructional day start time has been moved from 7:55 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. making dismissal time 2:30 p.m. versus 2:35 p.m.  This five minute change will enable buses to start their Northwest and Southwest school runs earlier and promote on-time arrivals to their respective schools. 

• The school day start time for Northeast High has been changed from 8:45 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. with dismissal moved from 3:40 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. This five minute change will enable buses which serve Northeast High to have adequate route time for on-time delivery of students.  Furthermore, the change will also provide additional time in the afternoon between the dismissal time of Northeast Middle and High schools for loading of students on buses.  Thus, eliminating some of the loitering time for students waiting to load buses coming from the Northeast Middle campus.

• The Southwest High instructional day start time has been moved from 8:35 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. making dismissal time 3:35 p.m. versus 3:30 p.m.  This five minute change will assist with on-time arrival of buses to Southwest High from their respective first tier schools, providing additional run time.

• Due to an administrative request, The Academy at Central instructional day time has been moved to the second tier schedule.  The instructional day will correspond with the traditional schedule for High Point Central High.

• The Academy at Lincoln instructional day start time has been moved from 8:50 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. making dismissal time 3:55 p.m. versus 3:50 p.m.  This 10 minute change will assist with on-time delivery of students to The Academy at Lincoln and will reduce traffic congestion on Lincoln Street for vehicles transporting students to Dudley High. 

• We have included tentative delivery/departure and instructional day times for the new Northern Elementary, E.P. Pearce Elementary, the Reedy Fork Area Elementary, Southern Middle, Northern High and The Newcomer School; however, such times may have to be adjusted after the first of the school year or actual school opening.  Changes will be dependent on traffic conditions or the ability for buses to make on-time deliveries to their assigned second tier schools.

RECOMMENDATION: I recommend board approval of the 2007-08 Instructional School Day Bell Schedules.

Attachment #1 - Tier I (Elementary)
Attachment #2 -Tier 2 (Middle and High)
Attachment #3 - Magnet, Special and Non-traditional