Transportation & Start Times Update, Sept. 19, 2023

September 19th, 2023

The following is adapted from a message sent by HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano to HCPSS staff, students and families on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023:

Tomorrow, the start and dismissal times will be changing for your school to better support the on-time arrival of school buses across our county. If your child is eligible for bus service and you have not already done so, please review your child’s adjusted pick-up time and bus information by logging in to HCPSS Connect Synergy, selecting More Options and then Homeroom / Transportation / POS to determine bus times. This information also can be found in the HCPSS online bus locator.

Since the first week of school, we have been reviewing data and testing scenarios to make adjustments. Our modeling has demonstrated that the changes being implemented tomorrow will result in a marked improvement in the ability of buses to arrive at their destinations on time. As drivers, students and families adjust to the new start and drop-off times, there may still be some delays and other issues that occur that we will troubleshoot as they arise. As part of our continuous improvement process, any further route modifications will be shared directly with impacted families.

Tomorrow, we will launch a new feedback form that will be utilized for families to report route concerns so our transportation staff can review, respond and adjust where appropriate. I appreciate our transportation staff who have been working diligently to develop and prepare for this plan’s implementation, while managing the communication with contractors around the hundreds of bus delays we are currently experiencing.

Thank you, students, staff and families for your flexibility as we implement this change. I appreciate your continued partnership in supporting and educating our children.