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 student times are as follows:

• High School (Grades 8-12): 7:45-2:50
• Middle School (Grades 5-7): 8:14-3:20
• Elementary School (Grades K-4): 9:05-3:45

The schedule determination was a collaborative process, involving many, exploring and anticipating all benefits as well as concerns. The 2016-17 schedules will replace the old model that presented challenges for many parents pertaining to transportation, and impeded the district's ability to maintain the most efficient and responsive transportation system possible.

Please note the following:

● The new schedule maximizes opportunities for students during the school day and addresses many transportation-related challenges and other concerns that have been voiced by parents.

● The adoption of lower transportation eligibility limits for students, which was approved by the Board of Education and then by voters on the May 2015 ballot, necessitated a school start and end time change.  The proposition approval resulted in many more children eligible for bus transportation by reducing the eligibility limits from 1.5 to 0.75 for middle school students (grades 5-7 beginning in 2016-17) and from 1.8 to 1.0 for high school students (grades 8-12 beginning in 2016-17).

● By adjusting the school start and end times, the district was able to minimize the number of bus purchases and additional bus drivers needed to accommodate the new reduction in transportation eligibility limits for students. 

● The district had to navigate many challenges in creating this standardized, more efficient and cost-effective schedule, including:

○ The minimum amount of time students are required to be in class determined by the New York State Education Department.

○ The collective bargaining agreement with the Kenmore Teachers’ Association (KTA) stipulates the time range for the start and end of the teachers’ workday. Contractually, teachers cannot be required to report to work earlier than 7:45 a.m. or be required to work past 4:00 p.m.

○ A minimum of 30 minutes is needed between the start of bus runs.

○ Ensuring that start and end times remained consistent with other schools, particularly at the middle and high school level where there is a great deal of collaboration with other school districts such as athletics and BOCES programming.

● As a result of these changes, start and end times will now be consistent at each level – elementary, middle and high school.  In the past, start and end times have varied significantly across elementary schools with some schools starting at 7:40 a.m. and some starting at 9 a.m.

● The school day is being extended by approximately 25 minutes to provide students with more opportunities and flexibility during the school day. Examples include middle school music ensembles and teaming have been returned to the school day, additional time for activities in the elementary day, as well as extended opportunities for all students to receive support have been included in school schedules.

● This is also part of an ongoing effort to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of district transportation.

● The district will be able to communicate bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times quicker and more efficiently, addressing start-of-year transportation challenges that have plagued Ken-Ton and other school districts in the past.

● The same buses will be able to pick up and drop off the high school students, then the middle school students, and then the elementary school students, which will be of particular importance next year when the new transportation eligibility limits make many more middle school and high school students eligible for transportation.

● Feedback from parents has helped the district identify areas of opportunity. This includes significant challenges parents have faced in the past such as inconsistent and inconvenient start and end times in their children's schools, difficulty obtaining bus information, and missed before and after-school opportunities.