INDIANAPOLIS – The IPS school board approved a three-tier transportation model Thursday that will change schools’ start times for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Tier one will move six high schools, three middle schools and three elementary schools to a start time of 7:20 a.m., instead of 7:30 a.m. These students will be released at 2:20 p.m.
The second tier will change the start times of 13 elementary schools to begin at 8:15 a.m. instead of 9:05 a.m. They include:
- George Fisher
- Raymond F. Brandes
- Charles Warren Fairbanks
- Clarence Farrington
- James Garfield
- Robert Lee Frost
- Meredith Nicholson
- Floro Torrence
- Daniel Webster
- James Whitcomb Riley
- Carl Wilde
- Washington Irving
- Ernie Pyle
Tier three will include one high school, 37 elementary schools and choice programs that previously started at 9:05 a.m. They will begin at 8:15 a.m.
The school board found a variety of benefits to changing start times including the opportunity to use 30 fewer buses, the potential to save $2 million annually, reduce the amount of doubled routes, and increase extra-curricular transportation opportunities, among others.
The district plans to create a task force to help high schools transition. This includes meeting with students, parents, athletics, employers, IndyGo and public safety departments to provide solutions to any potential issues.
The three-tier transportation model will be discussed during the March, July, September and October board meetings. Nine public meetings will take place throughout the year.
You can see a list of all schools in each tier here.
