WJCC Bus Times Undecided, but Parents Should Expect Changes

By Amber Lester Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Williamsburg-James City County school division parents will have to wait a little longer before they know when their children will be boarding and exiting buses next year.

The division is planning a new bus schedule to incorporate two new schools – J. Blaine Blayton Elementary and Lois Hornsby Middle – on Jolly Pond Road. The School Board voted to redistrict the division’s elementary and middle schools on April 22.

WJCC Director of Transportation Earl Tyler faced criticism from parents and teachers at a June 15 School Board work session for his first draft of changes to the three-tier bus schedule. They were most concerned about a proposal to move Tier III start and dismissal times to 9:35 a.m. and 4:05 p.m., which would drop many kids off in the dark during the winter. School board member Ruth Larson said she couldn’t support that plan, and the rest of the board seemed to agree.

The division currently operates on a three-tier bus schedule, with Tier I for middle and high school, Tier II for some middle schools, elementary and preschools and Tier III for the remaining elementary and preschools.

In the past year, Tier I schools started the day at 7:20 a.m. and finished at 2:20 p.m. Tier II schools were staggered, starting at 8:05 a.m., 8:35 a.m. and 8:40 a.m., respectively. Those students finished the day at 3:05 p.m. Finally, Tier III schools, which included most elementary, started at 9:20 a.m. and completed the day at 3:50 p.m.

In his June 15 presentation to the board, Tyler said the department had tested several different scenarios to determine the most efficient use of school buses and staff while ensuring students arrive at school and at home on time. The option he presented offered the following changes:

•Toano Middle School would move from Tier I to Tier II. The change would use fewer buses and drivers.
•Hornsby Middle School would be placed on Tier I, replacing Toano’s slot.
•Stonehouse Elementary would move from Tier II to Tier III. By switching tiers with Clara Byrd Baker Elementary, which has a more compact area to cover, the buses serving CBB could complete their runs sooner.
•Clara Byrd Baker would move from Tier III to Tier II.
•Tier II middle school start and dismissal times would be five minutes later, moving to 8:10 a.m.-3:10 p.m. The later time would provide extra minutes for buses to arrive.
•Tier II elementary school start and dismissal times would be five minutes later, moving to 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
•Tier III schools would start and dismiss 15 minutes later, making the school day run from 9:35 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.

During a citizen’s comment period prior to Tyler’s presentation, two teachers and one parent expressed dismay over the plan. Karen Armstead, president of the Williamsburg-James City County Education Association, said the administration had failed to consult with the teachers’ organization before releasing a plan that would tamper with their schedules. She added that teachers would be spending even more time waiting for buses with their students in the evenings without any promise of additional compensation.

“A later start time means class won’t begin until 10 a.m. and children may not get home until 5 p.m. or later,” she said. “This impacts second jobs, homework time and more.”

Millie Webb, a music teacher at Norge Elementary, said that on the current schedule, buses rarely arrive before 4 p.m. She said teachers clocked an additional 2,700 minutes, or 45 hours, waiting for the buses with their students. “That’s 6.9 extra days that we have children that we’re not being compensated for,” she said. Webb suggested that if teachers would not receive any raises, they should be allowed to carry over personal leave time.

Member Ruth Larson agreed that the proposed bus schedule would be difficult for teachers and parents. “The reality is that most parents are working parents,” she said. “They’ve adjusted to school starting at 9:20 a.m.”

The board will next meet at 7 p.m. on July 20 in the boardroom in Building F at the county complex on Mounts Bay Road.