District reports mostly positive survey feedback on new school start times; buses now run with 25‑minute span between first and last drop‑off

The Monticello Public School District on Monday presented survey results and early data on this school year’s new start times, with district leaders reporting broadly positive responses and improved transportation efficiency.

Superintendent Eric Olsen reminded the board the start‑time change was intended to align schedules with adolescent sleep patterns and to improve learning conditions. Olsen said the district collected 533 family survey responses; he reported that 55% of families said the change had been a positive or low‑impact change and that, when combined with neutral responses, roughly three‑quarters of families found the change positive or had no strong impact. For staff and students, Olsen said 48.8% answered “yes” that the change was positive and about 30% reported they were indifferent, producing a similar combined majority.

Olsen highlighted attendance metrics as a key area to monitor. He said the district’s ALP program has seen marked improvement in attendance, reaching about the 80th percentile after prior months of 30–50% attendance. Olsen also noted a commonly used education benchmark that 90% attendance is associated with healthy student outcomes and that the district had only one month this year below 90% district‑wide.

On transportation, Olsen said the previous difference between the first bus drop‑off and the last drop‑off was about an hour and 40 minutes; under the new schedule the span is approximately 25 minutes. He characterized the change as creating a much more efficient bus system and said the director of transportation will report again in May or June after additional route tweaks.

Survey respondents reported both positive and negative effects. Positive items included increased sleep and better routines for some secondary students, more family time because the day ends earlier, and improved morning logistics. Challenges cited included concerns about elementary students losing sleep, childcare timing and costs, and initial busing issues early in the year; Olsen said the district addressed routing problems over a period of roughly two months.

Olsen said staff and students also reported improved alertness in classrooms but that some elementary teachers expressed concerns about reduced prep time before students arrive. He closed by thanking families for survey participation and said the district will continue to monitor attendance, behavior and academic measures and will provide another transportation update later in the spring.