Late buses drive new school bell times
Proposed school hours at a glance
Tier 1
All high schools
• Student times: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. – 49-minute period and 30-minute lunch
• Staff times: 6:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
All K-8 schools, Skyline Elementary School, Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School
• Student times: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – 47-minute period for middle school and 30-minute lunch
• Staff times: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tier 2
All elementary schools and Young Parent Education Program
• Student times: 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. – 30-minute lunch
• Staff times: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tier 3
All middle schools, Success Academy, Buckingham Exceptional Student Center and Royal Palm Exceptional Center
• Student times: 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. – 47-minute period, 30-minute lunch
• Staff times: 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
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With nearly 8,000 students arriving late to class, and almost 19,000 students being picked up late to go home, the School District of Lee County continues to move forward with a solution: Different start times for all schools next year.
“Kudos to (Superintendent Dr. Denise) Carlin and her team,” Chair Sam Fisher said. “She started talking about it in November and it’s February. This has been amazing — a need step. We need to do this. We have seen the calls, emails and having the kids not showing up on time and the impacts it has.”
As of October 2024, the district has 47,000 bus riders. Among these, 7,990 students arrive late, providing a 83% on-time arrival for the morning arrival times.
For the afternoon arrival – 18,800 students are picked up late, giving it a 60% on-time arrival.
“We’ve talked about two major priorities — improve student safety — this accomplishes that,” Carlin said. “It does not allow students to be left alone at a bus stop for it not to come or an hour or two late. It may be OK for a high school student. If I am an 8-year-old, I shudder to think what that looks like.”
She said with hearing the statistics — 8,000 students late to school every day — it makes for a compelling “why” to make a change.
“Eight thousand speaks very loudly to me,” Carlin said.
Carlin said the Lee County School District is number nine out of the 10 largest school districts when it comes to student achievement.
“It is not a mystery any longer why were in the place we are,” she said.
Carlin said with two minutes of instructional time per period for an additional 42 hours of instruction for the year at the high school level — what that could do for students.
“I’m excited about this proposal. It’s fixing a real problem for the district,” she said. “I am about solving problems and not living in problems.”
Security and Fleet Operations Chief David Newlan said the conversation is being had because they want to resolve the busing issue, safety concerns of youngsters at bus stops and being fiscally responsible.
High school students will have 49-minute periods, and their school day will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All K-8 schools, as well as Skyline Elementary School and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School day will be from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All elementary schools, as well as the Young Parent Education Program, will have student times from 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
All middle schools, Success Academy, Buckingham Exceptional Student Center and Royal Palm Exceptional Center will go to school from 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Middle school students will have 47-minute periods and all students will have 30 minute lunches.
Transportation was given an hour and 10 minutes between tiers.
Some of the top concerns that were shared were about morning and afternoon care at elementary schools, teacher-supported entry and dismissal for buses and parent pick up, SB733 mandating later start times for high school students in the 2026-2027 school year and elementary schools currently with additional 30 minutes.
Some of the school board’s concerns were around planning time for teachers, as well as before- and after-school care for students, and teacher’s children.
Carlin said the associate superintendents are making sure they are sitting with principals throughout this planning to talk about such issues as before and after school programs, what planning time is going to look like and best practices around lunch time.
“We will be asking the associate superintendents to sit with each of the schools,” Carlin said.
District staff will bring back a final recommendation for the start times at each school next month.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com