In an effort to save money, Noblesville Schools is looking at the possibility of changing school day start times to reduce the number of buses needed to transport students. Director of Transportation Rick Gadberry said the district is looking at moving from a two-tier bus system to a three-tier one.
Currently the district’s high school and middle school students have one start time and elementary students have another. With a three-tier system, start times may vary from school to school and not across grade level.
“No schools in the area have a true three-tier plan,” Gadberry said, adding it is being used across the nation.
Gadberry presented three options of the three-tier system which will require the middle and high schools to not start at the same time. The same is true for all elementary schools.
“We can’t have all of the elementaries go at the same time. We have to divide elementaries somehow,” he said. “We don’t want to have people coming in the dark or going home in the dark.”
Noblesville Schools Supt. Libbie Conner said the district has discussed moving the high school to a later starting time.
“We were looking at adjusting start times even though we were on a two-tier system,” she said. “Start times have always been a concern, it defies research.”
In financial terms, the fewer buses that run the less money the district must pay to replace those vehicles every 12 years. Gadberry said the district currently has 113 buses. The three three-tier options decrease the number of buses needed to 86, 96 or 98.
“We’re losing money in funds because of tax caps. We absolutely have to find a way to cut our costs,” Conner said. “It’s a major money saving initiative.”
Conner said a bus costs $122,000 each. Plan F, which requires the most buses, would save the district $1.8 million.
“We’re taking money from other funds to prop-up the bus replacement fund,” she said. “With the bus operating fund we don’t expect to have huge savings.”
Conner said the next step is for the district calendar committee to look at the proposed school start times. Public forums will be held later this fall before a recommendation is brought to the school board.
Know more
■ The district currently uses a two-tier system where high school and middle school students attend classes from 7:35 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Elementary students go to school from 8:40 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.
■ Plan B – 7:35 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., middle school students; 7:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., Hazel Dell Elementary; 8:35 p.m. to 3:25 p.m., high school; 8:40 a.m. to 3:25 p.m., Hinkle Creek Elementary; and 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. for all other elementary schools.
■ Plan C – No schools start before 7:50 a.m.
■ Plan F – 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., middle school students; 7:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., Hazel Dell and Stony Creek elementary schools; 8:40 p.m. to 3:40 p.m., high school; 8:30 a.m. to 3:125 p.m., Hinkle Creek and White River elementary schools; and 9:10 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. for North, Noble Crossing and Promise Road elementary schools.