Based on community feedback received through surveys*, emails and public comments heard at board meetings, the School Board will consider adopting an alternate bell schedule model at the April 5 School Board meeting to address transportation challenges impacting approximately 14,500 students who rely on bus services each day.

Canceled bus runs are a common occurrence and an important indicator of system performance. Canceled and delayed bus runs are disruptive to student learning and creates logistical challenges for families. Since January, over 3,500 students have been impacted by a canceled bus run, disrupting their ability to get to and from school. 

The below bell schedule model #3 proposal is one of three bell models that will be discussed at the next School Board meeting to address transportation deficiencies. Proposed bell model #3 increases transportation efficiency while providing the least amount of impact to families.  This model will be recommended for board adoption at the April 5 School Board meeting. 

PROPOSED BELL MODEL #3

 *The draft bell time model survey closed at 5 p.m. March 31 providing over 7,600 responses and 4,685 comments.  Staff and families are encouraged to review the details of this proposed model and submit feedback via [email protected].

Tune in to next week’s Board meeting for important updates.  The School Board zoom meeting link will be published hereno later than 24 hours prior to the April 5 meeting.  Information on final bell schedule changes will be shared with staff and families immediately following the school board meeting on Thursday, April 6th.

Additional Resources

• Bell Time Task Force
• Current Bell Schedules

Frequently Asked Questions:

GENERAL

Q:  Why does the district need to adjust bell times to solve transportation problems? 

A:  Transportation resources are not being used efficiently.  Every day, bus runs are delayed, doubled-up, or canceled altogether. Our current bell time model does not support an efficient use of resources. As a result, students do not have access to fair and equitable bus services. By moving to a different bell schedule model, the district can ensure that each school bus is used at least three times every morning and afternoon to increase efficiencies.      

Q:  How long has a change in bell times been discussed?  It seems like this is all happening very quickly.

A:  In September of 2022, the School Board commissioned an advisory committee (Bell Schedule Task Force) to study and evaluate bus transportation efficiencies throughout the district.  Since that time, regular communication has been made to stakeholders, in addition to regular School Board reports as that work has evolved.  

• Sept. 6, 2022:  School Board Approves Task Force
• Oct. 3, 2022:  Transportation Annual Report
• Nov. 21, 2022:  Task Force Update
• Jan. 26, 2023: Community Informational Webinar
• Feb. 21, 2023: Task Force Update
• March 10, 2023: Task Force Update
• March 14, 2023:Community Informational Webinar

Q:  When did this alternate model #3 come into consideration and why? 

A:  A previous draft model was presented at the March 20 School Board meeting, that proposed significant changes to school schedules districtwide. At that meeting, the district was directed to seek an alternate model that was less disruptive. This bell model #3 increases transportation efficiency while providing the least amount of impact to families.  As such, this model will be recommended for board adoption at the April 5 School Board meeting. 

Q:  Are these bell times final?

A:  The school board will review the district’s recommendation and vote to adopt bell model #3 at the April 5 school board meeting. Information on final bell schedule changes will be shared with staff and families immediately following the school board meeting on Thursday, April 6^th.

Q:  Has it been discussed to rearrange grade levels at schools? Like moving 6th grade to Junior high and then moving 9th grade students to high school? 

A:  Our district has unique transportation challenges due to the way our schools have grade levels configured.  Many factors need to be considered when discussing a transition to a middle school model, which has been studied in the past. This alternate bell schedule model helps with a possible transition to a future middle school model when the time is right.   

Q:  How many people participated in the draft bell time model survey and is it still open? 

A:  The draft bell time model survey closed at 5 p.m. March 31 and provided over 7,600 responses and 4,685 comments.  In addition, community feedback was received from hundreds of individual emails into the belltimes email inbox and several public comments hard at board meetings.  Although the previous survey is now closed, staff and families still wanting to submit feedback based on bell model #3 can send an email via [email protected].  

TRANSPORTATION

Q:  Would it be possible to rearrange school parking lots, to make bus and parent pick-up easier and to alleviate community-wide traffic concerns?

A:  Yes, we are planning to implement pick-up and drop-off staging patterns at some schools in the fall to help buses get in and out of school parking lots on time. Specific instructions will be communicated directly with impacted school families.

Q:  What is being done to make bus driver positions more appealing to attract more people to apply?

A:  Our driver shortage directly correlates to what is happening nationwide.  This shortage is not unique to Puyallup.  In addition to offering a fair and competitive pay for drivers, we continue to evaluate ways in which we can retain and recruit bus drivers. 

Q:  How does this bell schedule change impact bus drivers?

A:  The bell schedule change increases on-time performance by providing bus drivers with adequate time to traverse from one location to the next.

ELEMENTARY

Q:  How was it decided which elementary schools were assigned to each tier?

A:  A variety of criteria was used in determining what schools were assigned to each tier. Stakeholder feedback was considered when determining what tier elementary schools were assigned to, in addition to the availability of bus fleet resources.

Q:  The majority of late tier elementary schools have a time change variance of 15-45 minutes, with the exception of Zeiger Elementary.  Why is that?  Why wasn’t Zeiger included in the early elementary tier? 

A: Zeiger Elementary is unique in that it cannot have a similar dismissal time with Rogers High School due to the severity of traffic congestion.  We realize this is a significant change for Zeiger staff and families, but are confident that this is the best solution on the impact to traffic in the area.

Q:  This change in bell schedules means that I need childcare for my elementary child. What resources can the district provide?

A: We realize that families may have a need for childcare based on any shift in bell times. District leadership has kept Right At School apprised of the task force work and they are prepared to respond to the needs of the community if new bell times are implemented for the new school year.

PROGRAMS

Q:  How do these bell changes impact students in special programs, like Dual Language and highly capable (QuEST)?

A:  This bell model allows for us to ensure that transportation additions and/or increased efficiencies for students enrolled in these programs are fair and equitable.