Students arriving at school and getting off a bus

Start Times Technical Workgroup

Solving Transportation Challenges

This District is working aggressively during the 2019-20 school year to find solutions for our transportation systems and start times that will be implemented fall 2020. We have contracted with a transportation consulting company to investigate both short-term and long-term opportunities for improvement.

 

 

Challenges Facing Our District

Construction crane and a line of cars

Regional growth contributing to increased congestions.

Barn, house and office building

Serving rural, suburban and urban neighborhoods.

Multiple speech bubbles overlapping each other

Coordination challenges between two counties, three cities and multiple agencies.

A small map and a large map

Larger geographic area compared to Lake Washington and Seattle School Districts.

bar chart showing growth

While other King County schools are declining in overall enrollment, we are growing.

Bell and clock

Shifting bell schedules to meet changing graduation requirements.

Bus driver

Region-wide shortage of qualified bus drivers.

School bus

Bus fleet constrained by a single distribution center.

 

 

How do we get from here to there?

Fall 2019

Clock graphic showing different start and dismissal times

Elementary schools begin between 9 - 9:30 a.m. and dismiss between 3:30 - 4 p.m. Middle schools begin between 8:30 - 8:40 a.m. and dismiss between 3:05 - 3:15 p.m. High schools begin at 7:30 a.m. and dismiss at 2:30 p.m.

Fall 2020

Clock graphic showing no schools beginning before 8 am and dismissing no later than 4 pm

No school starts before 8 a.m. and no school dismisses later than 4 p.m.

 

calculator

Step 1: Review Current District Data

  • Number of students per school
  • District size
  • Percentage of bus riders
Road

Step 2: Evaluate Proposed Solutions

  • Time on bus per student
  • Current routes and stops
  • Time on road per bus

 

Person walking

Step 3: Monitor and Adjusts

  • Mix of ages on a bus
  • Student walking distance
  • Eligible riders
football, music note and chess piece

Step 4: Review Current Policies

  • District program needs
  • Cross-district travel
Software

Step 5: Evaluate Proposed Solutions

  • Software
  • Bus optimization tools
school building

Step 6: Districtwide Analysis

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Step 7: Districtwide Implementation

 

Start Time Task Force

The Start Time Task Force worked to identify the best options to meet the directive of Resolution 714, which mandated a high school start time no earlier than 8 a.m. by the 2017-18 school year. Learn more about the Task Force...

 

 

Updates & Meeting Notes

Updates and proposals will be posted below as they come available. Click the Subscribe to get each update automatically sent to your email.

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