HCPS FL Logo Operations
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, April 25, 2017
TO: School Board Members
FROM: Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the 2017-2018 and Tentative 2018-2019 Bell Schedules
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
After receiving feedback that many families will have difficulty adjusting to a new school schedule for the 2017-2018 school year, Superintendent Jeff Eakins proposes that the implementation of a new bell schedule take effect starting in the 2018-2019 school year.  The 2017-2018 and tentative 2018-2019 bell schedules are attached.

It is widely known that our current arrival and dismissal schedule is not achievable.  We consistently receive an average of 4,000 calls per week on bus related matters and many questions and complaints revolve around bus delays.  This is because as soon as buses drop off high school students in the morning, the drivers only have 27 minutes to return back on the roads and navigate through traffic in order to pick up elementary school students and transport them to school on time.

For these same tasks, our surrounding school districts have built in 60-90 minutes.  A 27-minute time frame is clearly unrealistic and has resulted in our students arriving late to school, causing them to lose valuable instructional time.  The current school schedule also causes problems for students in the afternoon who are unable to arrive home on time as a result of chronically late buses.

In addition to allowing students to arrive to class on time, the improved efficiency will redirect $2.5 million from transportation back into the classroom to support instruction for students.
 
By delaying implementation of a new school schedule until 2018-2019, families will have time to make needed adjustments to work schedules and other commitments.  This also provides additional time for Hillsborough Schools to clarify questions or concerns that exist.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
All Strategic Objectives
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
Approval of the 2017-2018 bell schedules will have the identical monetary impact as the 2016-2017 bell schedules.
EVALUATION
SUBMITTED BY: 
Christopher Farkas   Dr. Alberto Vázquez
Chief Operating Officer
(813) 272-4004
  Chief of Staff
(813) 272-4986
    C 7.01
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20170425_849 (Special Called Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 7.01