Many families worry about longer walks and crowded stops in the dark. Students will now walk farther to reach their assigned bus stops. Before, the maximum walk was 0.4 miles for all students. Now it is 0.5 miles for preschool and elementary students. It is 0.7 miles for middle and high school students.

Several schools will also shift their start and dismissal times. Hidenwood, Kiln Creek, and Sanford will run from 9:20 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Huntington will run from 7:10 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. daily this year. Passage will run from 8:10 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. this year.

Recent violence near bus stops has heightened safety concerns here. In January, a 17-year-old was shot near a bus stop. Last September, a 15-year-old student was killed at a stop.

Check your child’s route and stop now, before school begins. Plan a safe path and practice it during daylight hours. Allow extra time during the first week to adjust routines. Report unsafe stops or issues to the school right away.

District staff say they studied other divisions and route data. They believe the plan will improve service with fewer drivers.