Board approves updated Murray Avenue and middle school schedule despite parental sleep and bus safety concerns
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Summary
The board voted Feb. 18 to adopt an updated schedule aligning Murray Avenue/Lower Moreland Middle School with secondary operations to reduce bus crowding and create joint planning time, after parents urged delay for an impact study citing adolescent sleep research and bus safety concerns.
The Lower Moreland Board of School Directors approved an updated Murray Avenue and middle school schedule on Feb. 18 intended to streamline transportation, reduce overcrowded buses and provide unified planning time for secondary staff.
Dr. Best framed the change as a response to chronic transportation inefficiencies and overcrowding on shared bus runs. “We have significant overcrowding on our buses, inefficiencies, and a trickle‑down effect getting buses late to Pine Road,” she said, adding that the proposal would reduce crowding on shared runs and better align shared staff and students who take courses across buildings.
Parents who spoke during public comment urged caution. Angela Malave, a parent, asked the board to “consider all of the studies and the medical and scientific evidence” showing earlier start times can harm adolescent sleep and health and urged the board to weigh those impacts before a final vote. Alexander Granovsky, another parent, urged the board to delay any vote until the district presents a comprehensive impact analysis on sleep, bullying risk when mixing older and younger students on buses, academic and behavioral effects, and risk/insurance reviews.
Board members acknowledged trade‑offs. Several speakers noted the value of later high school start times for adolescent sleep per national guidance, but also raised the practical difficulty of coordinating countywide schedules and the problem of students missing classes for athletics when schedules do not align. District data cited in discussion showed roughly 338 riders on a high school run on a sampled Tuesday out of 856 high‑school‑age students, and that 41 middle school students already ride high school buses for shared courses. The administration said combining schedules would reduce the number of students on shared bus runs and relieve extreme crowding (three to a seat on some buses).
Board members queried safety: could older and younger students be separated on buses by seating assignment or added supervision? Administrators said they already separate students on some runs and that staffing paraprofessionals for bus supervision has recruitment and budget implications. Dr. Best also noted the district’s county survey results on sleep (percentages by grade were cited) and said comparative data from other districts were not yet available but would be presented when compiled.
After extended discussion, a motion to approve the updated schedule was moved and the board voted to carry the motion. No numeric roll‑call tally was recorded in the motion text; the meeting transcript notes the motion carried.
