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Little Egg Harbor Board hears plan to shift school times and overhaul bus routes to cut student ride time
Summary
The board heard a detailed transportation plan proposing new start times (George Mitchell 8:15–3:05; Frog Pond 8:30–3:20), color-coded bus staging, consolidated unloading, and classroom breakfast delivery intended to reduce lost instructional time and improve safety. A trial run and parent notifications are scheduled before full rollout in September.
The Little Egg Harbor Township Board of Education on Wednesday heard a multi-point transportation plan aimed at cutting student ride time and improving safety.
Mr kofer, who led the presentation, said the plan’s primary goals are to “increase instructional time” and “ensure the safety of all of our students coming off the buses.” The proposal would stagger school start times—George Mitchell’s instructional day would run roughly 8:15 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., and Frog Pond’s 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.—and use color-coded bus staging to unload students directly to multiple entrances rather than holding them in cafeterias or gyms.
Under the plan buses would park in coordinated groups so staff can direct students to designated doors; the district also intends to deliver breakfast to classrooms so students can go directly to class upon arrival. The presentation said the target is to recapture “most if not all” of the instructional time currently lost to prolonged bus arrival and dismissal windows.
Board members pressed for operational details. One member asked when families would know how much ride time will be reduced; administration said drivers and staff will refine timing over the first weeks of school and drivers should have consistent pull-up locations “within a few days.” The board expects the routine to stabilize by October after a September rollout.
To limit traffic conflicts, the plan would prohibit cars on the Frog Pond campus while buses unload; a school resource officer would close the lot to parent entry when buses arrive. Administrators also said the district will use targeted text and global phone alerts to notify parents of route-specific delays and will test a single-school text notification capability for late runs.
A short pilot of the plan is scheduled this week, with the district sending flyers and digital notices to families ahead of the trial. Administrators said they will review results with principals, transportation staff and bus drivers, and make adjustments before the full implementation in September.
The board did not take a formal vote on the plan at the meeting. Administration and board members said they will monitor the pilot and return with operational updates and any needed policy clarifications before the new school year.
