More changes are coming to start time for some students in Chatham-Kent in the name of cost savings and efficiency.
Starting in September, grade 7 and 8 students at Ridgetown District Elementary School and students at Ridgetown District High School will start their day at 8am and be dismissed at 2:10pm.
The change in bell times comes with a shift to an integrated service model for school buses putting both elementary and secondary school students on shared buses servicing the two schools.
Officials with the Lambton Kent District School Board say as with previously announced bell changes in Dresden, the integrated start times will reduce costs and help lower school bus vehicle emissions without reducing services for students and families.
What will be changing:
- Pickup and drop off times at the school will be aligned to the new bell times.
• The bus that students currently ride may change with the updated 7-12 service and route updates.
• All buses will service both RDHS and GR. 7/8 students and therefore, student from 7-12 will be riding each bus.
What will stay the same:
- GR.7/8 students will have seating assignments planned at the front of the bus and seats at the rear of the bus will be open for RDHS students.
• Bus stop locations for all students will stay the same.
• There will be no substantial change to average riding times.
• Maximum bus loading parameters will remain the same.
• Bell times at Naahii Ridge Elementary School will remain the same.
Board officials say preliminary transportation details will be available from CLASS via the online parent portal tool by mid-July. Final transportation details will be available on parent portals any time after August 26th, 2024.