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Twin Rivers trustees approve narrow end‑time corrections after heated public comment on early start times
Summary
After parents and staff urged the board to delay or revise a plan that shifts some elementary start times earlier, trustees approved end‑time corrections for two sites and added public-facing language that times may be 'subject to change.'
Parents and community members pressed the Twin Rivers Unified Board of Trustees to delay or rework changes that would move some elementary schools’ start times earlier by 15 minutes. During public comment speakers described logistical hardships, safety concerns for students waiting in the dark and a lack of direct outreach from the district; one parent said, “We didn't even find out about this earlier start time until last week” (public comment recorded).
District transportation staff explained the scheduling rationale: changes aim to resolve bus routing inefficiencies and increase in‑class instructional time by tightening route separations; staff said a new routing software is in use and that the board had previously approved start-time adjustments in March. Trustees questioned whether the district could revert to the 2023–24 bell schedule or bring a consolidated schedule back to the board in June.
Faced with parent concerns, the board voted to approve limited corrections to end times for Madison and Frontier (motion moved by Trustee O'Kara, seconded by Trustee Rivas) and instructed staff to work with sites and add public-facing language noting that some published times may be subject to change. The motion carried; Trustee Baker and Trustee Jefferson recorded 'no' votes on the motion as read on the record.
What’s next: Transportation staff said they will continue routing work and return to the board with modified schedules as needed before August.
