Georgetown ISD previews bell schedule change to reduce bus routes and costs

Georgetown ISD staff told trustees Jan. 12 they plan to ask the board to adopt a bell schedule change aimed at making bus routing more efficient and reducing operating costs.

Landon Peflin, who introduced the preview, summarized a 2025 transportation study that found routing inefficiencies caused by a non‑balanced tier structure. Staff recommended a balanced three‑tier system with approximately 50 minutes between tiers so buses can complete one school's drop-off and be staged to begin the next route on time. District presenters said each additional route costs roughly $75,000–$80,000 annually; fewer routes would reduce operating pressure and ease driver shortages.

The draft schedule presented would move elementary start times earlier (about 7:30 a.m.) and adjust middle- and high-school times so middle-school dismissal would be around 4:25 p.m., with an overall school day shortened by five instructional minutes. Staff explained the five‑minute reduction will be recovered by converting two staff-development days into instructional days on the academic calendar so the district meets state instructional-minute requirements.

Trustees asked staff about safety, after‑school activities and principal and parent feedback; staff said principals were consulted and that the plan includes special outreach to early‑learning providers and that bus routes would be re‑worked with a focus on not leaving late‑route students waiting. Staff said they would return with detailed routing analyses and projected net savings before formal adoption.

If adopted, the change would be brought to the board for action later this month.