A NEW Message Regarding Start Time!
Recently, you were advised of school bell time changes for the 2010-11 school year. These changes in start and dismissal times were based on early estimates that were produced for the budget analysis in February 2010. Unfortunately, we need to advise you that we will be reverting to the same bell schedules as for the 2009-10 school year.
Following several requests, to reexamine the routes, and our more detailed route mapping and busing projections for the next school year, we have found that the change in bell times will not work from an educational or operational standpoint. Therefore, we must retain the existing bell times for the schools listed above.
While the proposed time changes worked well for reducing total bus routes and costs for regular school days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday), the new times did not work well for the early dismissal day -- Wednesday. By compressing our bus pick up times, we created a pick up time problem on Wednesday due to the shorter school day. With so many schools dismissing at approximately the same time, it is nearly impossible to pick everyone up right after classes dismissed. Under the proposed change, buses would have been significantly late to some schools.
After re-reviewing all the options, the Transportation Department will be able to realize similar budget savings by only changing the start/dismissal times of one school - Woodridge Elementary School. This means that the start and dismissal times for all other schools will remain the same next year as this year.
I extend my apologies to all principals and families for making this mistake and causing additional work and changes to personal schedules. Thank you for your understanding.
Please feel free to contact me or the Transportation Manager, Terry Parker, directly with any questions and/ or concerns. My phone number is 425-456-4556. Terry can be reached at 425-456-4538.
