Lee County Schools implements new start times to enhance student learning.
In response to ongoing school bus delays affecting student attendance, Lee County Schools are changing elementary start times to 8:40 a.m. This new schedule aims to improve transportation reliability and overall student achievement. Parents are adjusting to these changes, which include longer class times and standardized lunch periods. The district is also taking steps to address bus driver shortages while ensuring smooth communication during the transition.
Lee County, FL – In an effort to address ongoing school bus delays and improve student achievement, Lee County Schools are implementing significant changes to school start times through the Safe Start Initiative. Effective immediately, elementary schools will start at 8:40 a.m., nearly an hour later than previously scheduled. Middle and high schools will experience minimal changes to their start times.
These adjustments are a response to a concerning trend from the previous academic year, during which approximately 8,000 students regularly missed first period due to bus delays. Moreover, about 18,000 students were being dropped off at home well after the school day had ended, raising significant concerns among parents regarding the reliability of the region’s transportation system.
With the new schedule, parents such as Carole Dean, who has three children attending different schools, are now adapting to the shift, with potential childcare expenses increasing by about $125 a week. Another parent, Cary Colon, has reported instances of her older children not being picked up by their school bus, leading to frustrations with the overall efficacy of Lee County Transportation.
The school district is working to streamline its transportation issues by reducing the number of start times for schools. However, an ongoing shortage of bus drivers has been a primary contributing factor to route disruptions and missed pickups. To combat this shortage, the district will host a bus driver fair and is offering free training for individuals lacking a commercial license. Full-time positions are available and come with benefits and flexible scheduling options to enhance recruitment efforts.
Despite these changes, delays may persist until the district can successfully hire more drivers, even with the adjustments in start times. The Safe Start Initiative included a transition from a four-tier bus system to a more efficient three-tier system, aiming to improve safety and efficiency within the transportation framework.
The changes in schedule will lead to longer classes, including an increase to 49 minutes for high school students, with all schools adopting standardized 30-minute lunch periods. High school dismissal will now occur at 2:00 p.m., which is projected to add approximately 42 hours of instruction per school year.
The new start times and adjustments were developed following feedback gathered from school principals, staff, and community meetings, emphasizing the essential nature of collaboration in addressing these issues. The Chief of Safety for the district, David Newlan, highlighted the importance of synchronizing pick-up and drop-off times with school schedules, especially in light of the persisting bus driver shortage.
The initiative is anticipated to enhance the educational experience for students by reducing wait times at bus stops and improving overall learning conditions. Although the program is not expected to have an immediate fiscal impact, the transportation budget may experience modifications in the fiscal year 2026.
Lee County Schools will keep families updated as preparations for the new schedule continue, ensuring smooth communication to support the transition. School leaders will closely monitor the execution of the new system and make adjustments as necessary after its rollout begins.
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