Over the last weeks, I have addressed the human aspects of our schools. Today, I focus on the effect of school start times and adequate transportation.

Let me start with a quote from the National Center for Health Research.

“In the 1950s and 1960s, most schools started between 8:30-9 a.m. and many students barely stayed awake all day. By 2000, many high schools were starting at 7:30 or earlier, and a growing number of studies showed that these early school schedules can undermine teenagers’ ability to learn, to drive safely and to get along with others.” –National Center for Health Research

Most high schools do start at 8:30 but elementary schools start at 7:45. Buses are arriving at some bus stops before 7 a.m. with some possibly arriving so late to pick up, the students could be arriving to school after it has started.

As of August 19, 2024, KCS had a shortage of 30 bus drivers according to a local television report. A look at the KCS website bus report for parents reflects the bus issue with some morning buses being almost an hour late.

Long bus stop waits, canceled bus arrivals, waits for a second load increases the frustrations of families, educators and students.

Why is there a shortage? Is this an impossible problem?

Let’s look at Gwinnet County, Georgia, a school system’s transportation department named one of the top transportation departments in the country.

  • 2,006 buses run daily
  • 1,636 daily routes
  • 130,000 students transported daily (KCS has 58,000 in the district)

What are they doing differently? I don’t have that answer. Maybe someone should ask?

Inconsistent transportation causes everyone scheduling issues: families who have scheduled appointments, teachers who have planned instruction, and even unsuspecting morning commuters who intercept stopping traffic due to late busses picking up students.

However, our students are the most impacted by transportation that doesn’t get to school in time for school.

I addressed safety within the schools last week, but transportation is a safety issue as well. Finding the answers to staff enough bus drivers to safely transport all our students to school and back home on time should be one of the top priorities over other less essential stated priorities.

Once again, stay involved and ask the questions. Find solutions.

Bob Kronick is professor emeritus University of Tennessee. Bob welcomes your comments or questions to rkronick@utk.edu.