Officials optimistic new Lawrence routes won't have students losing any sleep
Superintendent Heath Grimes and Harold Pirtle, schools transportation supervisor, said bus drivers will pick up students at the same times as last year to take them to the elementary schools. Students in grades nine through 12 will board other buses that will take them to consolidated schools.
Grimes said the plan is for students to arrive at elementary schools at about 7:25 a.m., and leave for consolidated schools at no later than 7:30 a.m. Students will arrive at consolidated schools at 7:45 a.m.
Class begin at 8 a.m.
Classes will start at 8 a.m. and dismiss at 2:48 p.m. Dismissing early allows bus drivers to get students back to the elementary schools by approximately 3 p.m. so they won't spend more than an extra 10 or 15 minutes in school care, Grimes said.
In the past, classes started at 7:45 a.m. and ended at 2:55 p.m.
Student drivers will have the option of driving directly to their new schools or driving to their former schools and riding a bus.
To compensate for the time spent commuting, schools are cutting class lengths, but not eliminating any state-required instructional time, Grimes said. Although the state requires classes to last 45 minutes, some classes in Lawrence lasted 55 minutes, he said.
Bus routes have been a concern among parents since the county Board of Education began talks about consolidating high schools. Grimes said rumors have circulated about the length of time students will spend on buses. Others were concerned students wouldn't be allowed to drive to school, he said.
Grimes said the new transportation plan is "very similar to what it's always been," and that schools are cutting out excess time in the school day.
"We feel comfortable that we've got a pretty good plan," Grimes said. "We're working really hard to clear up misconceptions."
U.S. District Judge David Proctor approved consolidation of high schools in Lawrence County in May. Speake High School students will attend Lawrence County High School.
Mount Hope High School students will attend Hatton High School, and Hazlewood High School students will attend R.A. Hubbard High School. The facilities at Speake, Mount Hope and Hazlewood will continue to operate as elementary schools.
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