Board approves 2026–27 bell schedule changes to return schools to home times

The Savannah‑Chatham County Public School System Board of Education approved a series of bell schedule changes for the 2026–27 school year designed to return schools to their home times and accommodate swing‑site moves.

On the superintendent's recommendation, the board agreed to move Jacob G. Smith Elementary from 8:45 a.m.–3:30 p.m. to 9:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Georgetown K‑8 from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. back to 8:15 a.m.–3:15 p.m.; Pooler from elementary hours to 8:40 a.m.–3:40 p.m. while located at a swing site; Bloomingdale to 8:40 a.m.–3:40 p.m.; and the Wings Alternative Program to the elementary time frame of 9:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The recommendation was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

Board members debated the tradeoffs inherent in start‑time decisions. One member questioned the practice of early high‑school start times and urged aligning schedules with sleep‑science research, while others noted practical constraints such as athletics, transportation route timing and bus driver availability. Board members asked staff to explore transportation options and to consider whether some solutions would require changes at the state or regional level because of inter‑district athletics and travel.

Members also discussed impacts on younger students, noting that very late elementary dismissal times can affect afternoon engagement. Several trustees asked staff to evaluate after‑school programming, shift scheduling of noncore activities so academic work occurs earlier in the day, and to examine whether pilot changes could be staged to measure impacts before a broader district shift.

The board approved the motion to adopt the recommended bell schedule modifications beginning with the 2026–27 school year. The implementation timeline and any transportation adjustments will be managed by district staff as schools are relocated from swing sites.