The Hamilton Heights school board unanimously voted to approve a new 1-tier transportation plan beginning the fall of the 2021-22 school year at its June board meeting. The decision to move to a 1-tier bus plan at Hamilton Heights was one that was more than a year in the making. It will be more than a year before it is implemented.
The year leading up to the final vote, various busing plan options, data, district input and school systems where a 1-tier plan was in place were examined. There were Superintendent Advisory Group discussions, Public Work Sessions, presentations and board meetings with opportunities for sharing information, opinions and thoughts ranging from overwhelming support to absolutely not. There was a lot of passion expressed by everyone, no matter where they landed on this topic.
The 1-tier transportation plan will not be implemented until the fall of 2021. (Photo provided)
“While we may not always agree on a topic, we do share a common goal – the safety, well-being, and best interests of our students. While there was a great deal of support for this plan, the negative comments seemed to stem from fears about possible safety issues for our youngest students,” Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood pointed out. “And, I believe we have solutions which can allay most of these fears.”
The plan is being rolled out a year from now due to the uncertainties in the fall opening related to COVID-19, allow for students to move and settle in to their new spaces, including the temporary housing of the high school in the former middle school for first semester, have all three buildings on the same extended campus, and provide ample time to prepare for a smooth and successful transition.
In terms of the time adjustment, as a former classroom teacher, Julie Davis, a former educator backed by more than four decades in the classroom, said she understands that high school students often have jobs, extracurricular events, and extensive homework assignments that cause them to keep late night hours.
“I think the passage of the 8 a.m. start time for middle and high schools and the resulting 1-Tier bus system is essential and long overdue. I wholeheartedly believe a later start time will have a positive impact on student learning,” Davis said.
Dr. Kevin Cavanaugh, President of the Hamilton Heights School Board, agrees.
“It also seemed important that with so many changes we have faced over the past few months and anticipated changes at the start of the new school year coupled with community input, pushing this change out to the 2021 school year just made good sense,” Cavanaugh said.
“Personally, I am grateful to be a part of a thoughtful and caring group in which our community places their confidence in our ability to advocate and make decisions that are in the best interests of our students,” Davis said. “I am just as grateful to live in a community that is as passionate about all things Hamilton Heights as I am.”