The District Transportation Department estimates that 90% of K-5 school bus riders will be picked up from their homes/neighborhood pickups between 7:05 a.m and 7:25 a.m. Buses will unload at the elementary schools at 7:30 a.m. Any regular exceptions to this will be communicated in advance so supervision can be arranged.
School will dismiss at 2:05 p.m. and buses should be off campus as close to 2:20 as possible. We estimate that 90% of K-5 students will be dropped off at home between 2:20 and 2:50 p.m.
Please note: the above pickup and drop off times are estimates only. As it is with all school years, the actual transportation times may shift slightly as our families and Transportation Department develop a routine.
Elementary schools will open to students at 7:30 a.m..
As per Transportation Department protocol, a parent/guardian must be present and/or visible to the school bus driver at a location in order to release students in grades K through 2 at a bus stop for drop off.
For students grades 3-5, bus drivers must be able to ensure that a student has a “safe haven” at drop-off, ie. is able to enter the home safely
If a parent/guardian is NOT home or a “safe haven” is not ensured, buses will no longer be able to loop the neighborhood OR take the student back to school.
Minerva DeLand will serve as a central hub for students who did not have an adult at home during drop-off. Students will be supervised by Minerva DeLand sentry in a common space.
The Transportation Department will continue to communicate this protocol over the coming months and into the next school year.
Extracurricular Activities
The District knows that participation in clubs is important to our students and families. Due to the two-tier transportation schedule going into effect in the 2026-2027 school year and the transition period to the new school hours, there will be NO after-school elementary clubs during the fall of 2026. A potential schedule for clubs will be re-evaluated for the spring of 2027.
Music ensembles will rehearse after school starting in fall 2026. Students participating in orchestra and band during the 2026-2027 school year will NOT be able to participate in after-school clubs in spring 2027. Each building will coordinate with the music department and transportation about ensembles and will communicate that with affected staff and families.
After-School Wrap Care
The YMCA’s after-school programming will begin at the end of each elementary school day and end at 6 p.m., Monday through Friday during the 2026-2027 school year.
The YMCA will operate after-school programming at Brooks Hill, Jefferson Avenue and at Northside/Dudley. The number of students able to be admitted to each school’s after-school program is determined by the YMCA and depends on staffing and space available.