To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Eric J. Becoats, Ed.D.
Sharon S. Ozment

Date:

July 18, 2008

RE:

2008-09 Instructional School Day Bell Schedules

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

• reduce transportation costs;
• promote school bus efficiency;
• promote on-time delivery of students;
• meet the minimum of 6 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 6 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 2008-09 are attached and recommended changes or new school bell schedules are highlighted in yellow with red letters.

The proposed bell schedules include the following changes:

• The Summerfield Elementary School instruction day start time has been moved from 7:40 AM to 7:50 AM making dismissal time 2:30 PM versus 2:20 PM.  This 10 minute change will enable buses to unload kindergarten students at the Laughlin School site prior to unloading at the Summerfield School site and will accommodate afternoon loading of kindergarten students at the Laughlin School site first. 

• Summerfield Elementary kindergarten students will attend school at the Laughlin school site.  In order to maintain bus schedules, the Laughlin site instructional day schedule will be 7:40 AM - 2:20 PM.  

• The GCS Newcomers School instructional day schedule will be moved from 8:40 AM - 3:45 PM to 9:30 AM - 4:25 PM.  The change from the traditional calendar schedule to the year round schedule initiates challenges for these students changing bus routes when the calendar days do not coincide.  The change in the later schedule provides direct bus routes for these students that may have language barriers.       

RECOMMENDATION: We recommend board approval of the attached 2008-09 Instructional School Day Bell Schedules.

Attachment #1 - Tier I
Attachment #2 - Tier 2
Attachment #3 - Magnet, Special and Non-Traditional Schools