PANAMA CITY — Officials at Bay District Schools are considering changing school start times in order to get students to school on time.
Bus and bus personnel shortages have put school district transportation on a bumpy ride this school year. Transportation Director Bob Downin believes pushing school back or forward in a 5- to 15-minute window in the 2014-2015 school year should help solve the problem.
“This is the only way we can transport our kids without putting a lot more buses and bus drivers out,” Superintendent Bill Husfelt said at a workshop Tuesday.
Elementary schools would start five minutes earlier, from 7:50 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
Middle and high school would start 15 minutes later from 8:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., respectively.
End times would be adjusted by ending elementary school five minutes earlier and ending secondary school 15 minutes later.
“Even five minutes for us is tremendous,” Downin said. “We run a pretty tight schedule.”
The districtwide time adjustment also is expected to have a positive impact on safety, rapport with parents and schools, bus overcrowding issues and improve route execution and timeliness.
“To me, it’s very important that we get those kids on time for breakfast and then allow adequate time for students to report to class,” Downin said. “It’s a real impact on students when they have to rush … [and], in my opinion, sets the wrong tone for the kids.”
Board members will vote on the recommendation at an April 22 regular meeting.
Also at the school board meeting:
-Board members approved changes to job descriptions allowing special needs graduates more access to district jobs. Office typist I and II job description omitted significant prior experience requirements and changed its title to Office Clerk I and II.
-Board members approved a job description for district school resource officer. No one is being hired for the position, district officials said. The description will be available if the district seeks to fill it later.
