Knox County Schools could change when some students start and end their school day as the district looks for ways to save millions of dollars on transportation.¶
District leaders recently presented several preliminary options that would reduce bus routes while serving the same number of students. The ideas are part of a broader effort to lower operating costs after the district faced nearly $8 million in funding reductions this summer.¶
Possible Schedule Changes
The district is considering three options, with estimated yearly savings ranging from more than $950,000 to about $2.7 million, and each of them would let more buses serve multiple schools at different times. The first option would cut about 27 routes and save more than $950,000 per year. Five elementary schools would move to 8:30 a.m. start times, while six high schools and one middle school would start at 9:30 a.m. A second option would cut around 45 routes and save about $1.6 million by moving some middle schools to 9:30 a.m. start times.¶
The third option would cut about 77 routes and save an estimated $2.7 million each year. About half of elementary schools would begin at 7:30 a.m., while the other half would start at 8:30 a.m., and 11 middle and high schools would move to 9:30 a.m. District officials emphasized that the ideas are preliminary and could change before a final vote.¶
Balancing Savings with Family Needs
Changing school schedules could lower transportation costs, but it could also affect parents, students, and teachers. Later start times can change childcare options, after-school activities, work schedules, and how long some students spend on buses.¶
The district would also have to consider student supervision, teacher collaboration, and families with children attending more than one school. Any final plan would have to balance those concerns with the push to lower transportation costs.¶
Part Of a Larger Budget Review
The transportation discussion comes as Knox County Schools looks for savings across the district. KCS is already cutting nearly $4 million from its central office over two budget years as it tries to direct more resources toward classrooms.¶
The district also had to respond to a $7.8 million budget shortfall this summer after Knox County redirected $4 million and the state provided about $3.8 million less than expected. KCS reassigned affected teachers instead of laying them off and used furloughs and other reductions to help close the gap.¶
District leaders are also considering school closures, technology reductions, and other changes for another tight budget year. The bus proposals show how KCS is looking beyond classroom staffing for savings, but any schedule change would directly affect families. No final decision has been made, and the board is expected to keep discussing the options as administrators plan for next school year.¶
