The new seven period schedule for high schoolers has them getting out of school 30 minutes earlier than last year, leaving Bay District with a transportation challenge.
"Elementary and high schools will get out at 2:00. What we are going to do is transport those elementary students home first, and as soon as we finish that transport we're going to pick up the high schools," says Ken Phillips, the Supervisor of Transportation in Bay District Schools.
Last year, Bay District Schools let out at 3 different times, allowing the Transportation Services to use a three tiered system. With high school and elementary school now out at the same time, the system changes to a two tiered system, but the district does not have the resources to pick everyone up at once.
The buses will first pick up the elementary students and drop them off, and then come back to the high schools. With this new system, officials are expecting a 15 minute delay before the buses make it back to the high schools.
High school administrators, however, say this delay could have advantages.
"We found that is going to provide us with a lot of opportunities for our students to either obtain additional tutoring. Meet with a teacher to complete a test. Participate in extra curricular activities, and just enjoy a little of high school life," says Kris Palfrey, assistant principal of Bay High School.
Transportation officials say once the elementary students are familiar with their bus assignments, the delay may be reduced.
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