Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - In an effort to solve the ongoing transportation issues facing the school district, a proposal is on the table to have three different start times for classes at Buffalo Public Schools instead of the current two.
The proposal is getting support from one parent group, but the final determination of the concept would require agreement by the Buffalo teachers union.
The district's proposal calls for start times of 7:30am, 8:30, am and 9:30am, as opposed to the current start times of 8am and 9am. Sam Radford of We The Parents is in favor, saying it's a solution that keeps kids from being stranded at the bus stop. "The only barrier that I'm aware of is the fact this is going to affect teachers at K through eight schools, and it is only going to affect a couple," says Radford. He refers to teachers who already have day care in place.
Radford says this will help students be in the classroom on time, to be able to learn effectively. "If the teacher wants to actually teach children, and have those children be able to perform well academically and not come to school, two hours, late missing classes, or end up staying at school two hours later, getting home late and not being able to have time with their family," notes Radford.
Buffalo School Board President Lou Petrucci says there are a number of issues before this can be implemented. "First and foremost, we have to get the agreement for the MOU from the Buffalo Teachers Federation, because as part of their contract, they have, say, in the bell times the start times at their respective schools," explains Petrucci. He says there will also be issues for parents to drop their kids and pick them up after school, and an effect on how many students take part in after school activities.
Petrucci adds the reason for the change is allow the existing pool of bus drivers to complete one route before starting on the next.
Will the BTF agree to a change? "I've learned a long time ago not to predict what the BTF is going to do to," says Petrucci.