Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD
Providing our students with the supports, tools, and diverse opportunities needed to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world
- Kenmore Town of Tonawanda UFSD
- Overview
Message from Superintendent Dawn F. Mirand Regarding New Start & End Times
NOTE: Much feedback has been received, which will continue to assist in driving refinements to the scheduling process. For the most up-to-date information on start/end times, visit https://www.ktufsd.org/Page/16328
The rationale behind the changes are as follows:
- When our staff were looking at middle school scheduling for next year and planning for the grade 5-7 change, they saw an opportunity to provide what many parents have requested: add music ensembles back into the school day! Currently, in order to participate in band, orchestra and chorus, middle school students must arrive before the school day. This makes it difficult for some students to participate in music. The District is extremely excited to be able to add middle school music ensembles back into the school day. Parents and students will likely be very happy with this change!
- To assist in alleviating transportation issues, the District’s ongoing goal has been to create a three-tiered system of start and end times with high schools starting first, followed by middle schools, and then elementary schools. Many parents may remember this discussed as part of last year’s budget process and in communication, information, presentations and meetings this year related to the consolidation transition.
- A three-tiered transportation system will assist the District in minimizing the number of additional buses and drivers needed. A three-tiered system requires standardizing elementary school start times, which currently range from 8:05-2:20 to 9:10-3:25. To have a three-tiered system requires high schools starting first, followed by middle schools, and then elementary schools due to programming, staffing, and after-school and athletic activities.
- Adding middle school music ensembles back into the school day required changes to the middle school start and end times because there simply wasn’t enough time during the school day to accomplish this. Because the same buses and drivers are used at all three levels, this impacts the start and end times at the elementary and high school levels as well.
As they looked at options for next year, our Ken-Ton staff worked hard to consider a variety of other factors:
- Transportation-related challenges the district has faced in past years
- Feedback and concerns voiced from parents
- A higher number of students will qualify for bus transportation beginning in 2016-17 with the May 2015 voter approval of reduced walking limits
- Significant challenges and limitations that schools face each year in scheduling
- New York State mandates and requirements
- A minimum of 30 minutes needed between bus runs
- Contractual obligations that limit school day start and end times
- End times in other school districts and BOCES with which our schools collaborate
- Shared staffing allocations
The 2016-2017 Consolidation School Schedule was brought to and approved by the Board of Education on Feb. 9. The final schedule took into consideration all of these factors in order to create a schedule that allows us to:
- Maintain a more cost-effective, efficient, and responsive transportation system
- Accommodate the many more students who will be eligible for bus transportation
- Create consistency across schools
- Maximize opportunities for students during the school day
There has been so much information to convey to parents and the community as we prepare for the Scenario I consolidation transition. It is certainly understandable that the actual start and end times set may have come as a surprise to some parents! I know many will be happy with the changes and will understand the need and rationale. Others will have concerns and questions, and that is understandable. Feedback the district is receiving from parents is greatly appreciated and respected. This helps us to identify areas of opportunity, such as the need for early morning arrival options at elementary schools.
In the meantime, it is important to keep things in perspective:
- In the past, the length of the school day in Ken-Ton schools has generally been on the lower end when compared to other Erie County school districts, particularly at the elementary level.
- Beginning next year, start and end times in Ken-Ton will be comparable to other Erie County school districts. So too will the length of the school day (within 5, 10 or 15 minutes of most).
- Many districts have close to, or exactly the same, start and end times at individual grade levels.
- Most high schools in Erie County start at 7:45 a.m. or earlier.
- There is only 25 minutes being added to provide opportunities that parents and teachers have asked for in order to improve the opportunities and experiences for our children. For example: teacher teaming, academic support and middle school music ensembles, to name a few.
- The end times for elementary schools will be only 20 minutes later than three of our current elementary schools.
The consolidation school schedule times are indeed a change, and angst is understandable. Our community is gearing up for all the changes that the Scenario I consolidation transition will bring. Any time there is a change, there is a temptation to think that things will turn out for the worst. Together, we will adjust, adapt, and often, we will look back and see that the change was for the better. Please have faith in our schools, our teachers, our staff! All are working extremely hard to provide the best possible educational experience for our students! Have a wonderful mid-winter recess and let’s look forward to a vibrant and exciting spring!