The Seattle School Board recently voted 6-1 to adopt a Transportation Service Standard that would revise arrival and departure times for the 2016-17 school year.
Students at Garfield High School (400 23rd Ave.) and Washington Middle School (2101 S. Jackson St.), who now start classes at 7:50 a.m., will start nearly an hour later next year, at 8:45 a.m. The end of the day will also be later, from 2:20 p.m. now to 3:15 p.m. next year.
Madrona PK-8 School (1121 33rd Ave.) and Leschi Elementary School (135 32nd Ave.) will move back their start times from 9:30 a.m. and 8:40 a.m., respectively, to 7:55 a.m. Madrona will excuse students at 2:25 p.m., from 4 p.m. now, and Leschi will let out its students at 2:05 p.m., from 2:50 p.m.
McGilvra Elementary School (1617 38th Ave. E.) will also move back its start time from 9:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. Students will then leave at 2:05 p.m., instead of its current 3:40 p.m. bell time.
The recommendation reflects Seattle Public Schools’ community and stakeholder outreach over the last year. This is in response to a resolution approved by the School Board in March 2014 stemming from ongoing discussions since 2008 about the benefits of shifting to later start times for adolescents.
The resolution directed the superintendent to determine feasibility, costs, impacts and logistics of shifting to later start times for adolescents, beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, while continuing to simplify the transportation standards and align them with the Student Assignment Plan.
Transportation costs will increase an estimated $182,500 in 2016-17 due to enrollment growth, boundary changes and Special Education program service updates.
For further details on the board resolution, bell-time feasibility study and list individual school bell times, visit bit.ly/1X9olOv.