School District Adjusts Start Times More Buses Will Run Shorter Routes

INFO TEXT - AT A GLANCE

New School Times

• Traditional elementary schools: Half-an-hour earlier at 7:30 a.m.; 2:30 p.m. release.

• Nontraditional schools and middle schools: Twenty minutes earlier at 7:40 a.m.; 2:40 p.m. release.

• Junior high schools: Ten minutes later at 8:35 a.m.; 3:35 p.m. release.

• High school: Twenty minutes later at 8:55 a.m.; 3:55 release.

Source: Staff

— New start times beginning this year in the Bentonville School District could save thousands of dollars in the long run, officials say.

The time changes, and more buses running shorter routes, were implemented in an effort to save the district money, school officials said.

“We are doing this for very specific reasons,” Superintendent Gary Compton said. “We really want to eliminate all the excess capital costs of buying buses. One bus can cost more than $80,000.”

The district may be able to avoid buying new buses for up to three years by using the new system. The district has purchased approximately five new buses a year for routes developed because of increased enrollment in past years.

New start times should eliminate the district’s need to purchase approximately 15 new buses over the next three years — an estimated saving of $1.2 million, said John Holder, district routing coordinator.

There are concerns despite the possible savings.

“One of the things that I am most curious about is what time they are going to get on the bus,” said Hollie Baker, Bella Vista resident and mother of six. “Last year, they had to get on the bus at 6:30 a.m. I am talking about 5- and 6-year-olds out in the dark. If it is going to be earlier than 6:30 a.m., that is going to be a really long day for them.”

Holder said pickup times won’t vary much from last year.

“On average, bus pickup times will be very similar to what it was last year,” Holder said. “We have more routes, so the kids will actually be on the bus a lot shorter time.”

“The actual district start time for picking up students began at 6:15 a.m. (last year). It will pretty much be the same time this year.”

Between the first pickups at approximately 6:15 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. — the new start time for middle school students — all 128 district buses will only be utilized to transport elementary and middle school students.

Buses will then begin routes for junior high school and high school students. Pickup times for the different grades overlapped and longer routes were needed to best utilize the 128 buses in the past.

Some students living at Glen at Polo Park apartments near the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport rode buses for more than a hour one way last year. Officials hope that won’t happen this year

Because of overcrowding at their zoned school, Central Park Elementary School, some of those students attended Sugar Creek Elementary School. They had to ride a bus to Central Park, then transfer to another bus to reach Sugar Creek.

They were typically picked up by 6:20 a.m. The bus made 25 different stops along its route. Central Park would be the last stop. Students who attended Sugar Creek would than catch another bus. That bus would arrive at Sugar CrMore buses will be used to pick up students along that route this year, allowing students to spend less time riding. The same students getting on at Glen at Polo Park only will have 13 stops instead of 25. Students who attend Sugar Creek will also not have to transfer buses. Their first pickup will be at 6:38 a.m. and they will arrive at Sugar Creek at 7:10 a.m. — a ride just over 40 minutes.

“This is an extreme example because these are students riding out of their zone,” Holder said. “On an average, most students will see their ride times cut 20 to 30 minutes.”

There are approximately 13,500 students in the district. More than 6,500 students ride buses, Holder said.

One bus traveled an average of 50 miles a day in the past. With the new times and more routes, some buses may run up to 100 miles per day.

“As long as the buses are maintained, they can last a long time,” Holder said.

The new bus routes for this year have yet to be completed.

“Right now, we are in the process of finalizing all the routes and getting student information,” Holder said. “We should have that done in the first week of August and then plan to send out post cards with bus information to the households of students.”

The district will test run the new routes on Aug. 9.

“We are going to run the bus routes to get all the times and make sure that nothing needs to be adjusted,” Holder said. “Parents or students will have a chance to be at their designated stops to get an idea of where the bus is coming from, where it will be stopping and what time it will be there.”

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