The Transportation Work Group has recommended adjusting school start and dismissal times for the 2023-2024 school year, which would allow bus transportation to be more consistent and reliable. The proposed schedule has no more than a 15-minute variation compared to current school start/dismissal times.
The below times were presented by RCPS leaders at the May 23rd School Board Special Meeting/Workshop:
7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. — 7 Elementary Schools
Fallon Park, Lincoln Terrace, Monterey, Preston Park, RAMS, Round Hill, and Westside
8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. — 10 Elementary Schools
Crystal Spring, Fairview, Fishburn Park, Garden City, Grandin Court, Highland Park, Hurt Park, Morningside, Wasena, and Virginia Heights
8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. — High Schools and Programs
Forest Park, Noel C. Taylor, Patrick Henry, and William Fleming
9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. — Middle Schools
James Breckinridge, James Madison, John P. Fishwick, Lucy Addison, and Woodrow Wilson
This would allow schools to start no more than 15 minutes earlier or later than their current schedule. It would have minimal impacts to students and families while also reducing bus delays and would not impact students' ability to participate in athletics, extracurriculars, work, or other activities.
Additionally, some students are currently picked up as early as 5:44 a.m. With the new schedule, no student would need to be on the bus before 6:15 a.m.
Proposed elementary start times are based on the city’s geography as well as elementary schools with specialty programs. Schools with specialty programs, such as PLATO, STEAM, and pre-K, have students who live across the city; therefore, routes are longer, so these schools would start at 8 a.m.
The School Board will vote on the proposed start and dismissal times at its June 13th meeting.
The Transportation Work Group has been diligently working throughout the 2022-2023 school year to study potential solutions related to transportation. The group is made up of 38 members, including parents/guardians, bus drivers and transportation staff, teachers, principals, and Central Office staff.
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