Dear Students, Staff and Families,
I hope that you all have had time take a bit of a break from busy routines to enjoy the beautiful summer weather.
As we prepare for the start of school, we are working through some of challenges with bus transportation. Director Scott Washburn and his team have worked incredibly hard these past few years to ensure a smooth operation. However, the current bus driver shortage will impact our ability to complete elementary and secondary runs on time. Additionally, athletic and co-curricular transportation is also impacted, and without action, this will continue through the Fall Season.
The purpose of the original shift in high school and junior high start times that occurred several years ago was to ensure older students start their school day later, as there certainly are benefits to this. As you are aware, there is a general labor shortage leaving the bus driver pool greatly diminished. Though the Transportation Department has consolidated as many runs as possible, we lack capacity to operate. The solution with the least impact on students and programs is to shift the Lawrence High and Lawrence Junior High school day by 15 minutes, with a 7:15 AM bus drop off (currently 7:30) and a 2:00 PM school dismissal (currently 2:15)—this involves Grades 7-12. We have worked with the high school and junior high administration to make this schedule adjustment of 15 minutes. The MMTC runs will not be impacted, as far as our students on time arrival and pick up for their programming.
The elementary school day schedule remains the same and will likely benefit from this 15-minute junior/senior high shift—buses will arrive more consistently on time and pick up happens closer to actual dismissal/student end of school day.
The Transportation Department will communicate the bus run schedules early next week. Lawrence High School and Lawrence Junior High School administration will communicate updated schedules for students and families.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure a successful start to this school year and look forward to welcoming students and staff back to our schools!
Sincerely,
Roberta Hersom
Superintendent of Schools