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School board approves new 2025–26 bell schedule over parent concerns about early start times
Summary
The Lafayette Parish School Board approved revised 2025–26 bell times intended to improve transportation efficiency and reduce evening traffic exposure; parents and commenters raised concerns about shorter transfer windows, student sleep health and childcare impacts. The vote was 6 in favor, four absent.
The Lafayette Parish School Board voted to approve recommended bell times for the 2025–26 school year, with the superintendent granted flexibility to amend schedules as needed for bus transportation.
Parents and community members urged the board to reconsider. “With only 10 minutes between middle and high school start times and only 5 minutes between dismissal, families with students at both will not have enough time to transport and pick up their kids,” said Nadine Malasa, a parent who testified during public comment. Malasa also described repeated bus service failures and said route spread and construction increase commute times for many families.
Valerie LeBlanc, another parent, cited medical guidance on adolescent sleep and urged the board not to move middle‑ and high‑school start times earlier. “The Academy of Pediatrics … has made its position abundantly clear. Middle school and high school students should not start before 8:30 a.m.,” she told the board, adding that earlier start times can harm academic performance and mental and physical health.
The superintendent and transportation staff said the changes aim to improve academic supports and make routes safer and more efficient. Superintendent Touchet told the board later dismissal times can be adjusted so more students are off buses before peak 5 p.m. traffic and said later teacher availability for after‑school tutoring informed the change. “We will be able to get teachers to stay after and we’re going to be able to get the kids that are in need to be able to have the things that they need,” he said.
Transportation staff said route consolidation can reduce the number of buses on the road and improve reliability. Miss Gardner, who led the transportation overhaul, said the system reached a 98% on‑road efficiency rate this year and that combined scheduling would allow some blended and paired routes to run with short layovers. Ross Clouto, transportation staff, said routes are being reworked now and that final route maps and satellite stop times are expected by early June, with confirmation to families to follow.
The motion to approve the recommended bell times passed; the board recorded the outcome as six members voting in favor and four absent. The motion included language granting the superintendent flexibility to amend times for transportation needs.
Ending — Board members and staff urged broad communication of the new times and called for repeated public outreach on social media, phone calls and the district website so families receive finalized routes and stop times before the school year.
