Holliston School Committee approves revised school start-time plan after extended public comment

The Holliston School Committee on Dec. 19 approved a revised district school-start schedule (an iteration of “Option A”) after extended public comment and technical briefings from district staff.

The committee’s vote, taken by roll call, was unanimous: Frank (yes); Hilling (yes); Joe (yes); Sarah (yes); Cynthia (yes); Don (yes); and the presiding committee member also voted yes. The motion was seconded by Don; the motion maker was not named on the record.

Why it matters: The change reshapes morning and afternoon start and dismissal times across the district and affects bus routing, after-school activities and staff schedules. Administrators said the approved model reduces some of the earliest start-time pressures while acknowledging the plan produces end-of-day dismissal times that may be later than some families and staff prefer.

Students and parents urged clarity and transparency during the public-comment period. “I’d just like some transparency on why you guys are looking for the schedule change and, sort of, what studies and research you guys have done, some numbers to back up the reason for the change,” said an alumnus who identified himself as a 2022 graduate. Michelle Ramanathan, a freshman at Holliston High School, told the committee she and other students oppose a “drop” schedule because it would reduce regular contact with the same teachers and “disrupt continuous learning.”

Administrators presented the committee with two working models and described the operational trade-offs. Mr. List, identified in the meeting as the high school principal, and district administrators said a subcommittee of teachers and administrators has been meeting to evaluate multiple schedule options and that staff consulted external scheduling tools and accreditation guidance while modeling routes. “We’ve been meeting periodically over the last couple months… We consulted with PowerSchool…and looked at…schedules that exist,” an administrator said during the presentation.

District transportation staff walked the committee through route-timing models that showed the chosen iteration (an amended Option A) would place the district-wide end time near 3:03 p.m. in the model presented. Transportation staff described current longest route times in the mid-40-minute range and said they expect to continue refining routes between now and the start of school to reduce travel time where possible. Rodney (district transportation staff) and Matt (operations staff who projected route models) told the committee they plan further route consolidation and stop-combination work to shave minutes off some runs.

Committee members and parents raised specific concerns about supervision and safety when middle-school students may wait up to about 10 minutes for buses in some models, staffing for elementary dismissal if runs are staggered, and the effect of later dismissal times on after-school activities and staff with second jobs. One parent who had volunteered in elementary dismissals outlined logistical challenges and said some of the proposed staggered-bus dismissals would be “unsafe without hiring additional staff.”

School leaders said they have observed current dismissals and will continue refining logistics; administrators also noted factors outside the district (traffic patterns, bridge openings, town coordination with police on SRO coverage) affect practical routing and timing options. “We are hopeful that we can kind of continue to… tighten this up as much as we possibly can,” an administrator said.

Votes at a glance (other formal actions taken during the meeting): - Tech collaborative agreement (add Sharon Public Schools and King Philip): approved by voice vote; mover/second not recorded on the public transcript. - Liaison appointment to the nurses collective bargaining unit: approved unanimously by voice vote. - Consent agenda: approved at the start of the meeting by voice vote. - Communication to the community (draft) for distribution: approved by voice vote.

What’s next: District officials said they will continue to refine routes and stop assignments over the months before the new schedule takes effect and will return to the committee if substantial changes are needed. Administrators also said they will continue community outreach and student engagement on the schedule as the implementation details are finalized.

A record of the Dec. 19 roll-call vote shows unanimous approval of the schedule motion; administrators emphasized the vote establishes a structure and that additional small timing adjustments remain possible before the start of the next school year.