The school bell will be ringing a little earlier at Collingwood Collegiate Institute starting in September 2021.
A schedule change was approved by the school board to save money in the transportation budget.
There are four school bus routes overseen by the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium having their schools’ bell times adjusted to create cost savings in Collingwood, Midland, Tottenham and Alliston.
Overall, the changes are expected to save funds to the tune of $742,500 for the Simcoe County District School Board, and $600,000 for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
“This is a significant amount considering the financial pressures facing transportation in the province,” said the superintendent of education for the SCDSB, Douglas Paul, during the board’s Mar. 3 business and facilities standing committee meeting. “These efficiencies will significantly improve service levels.”
In Collingwood, CCI’s bell times were 8:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. Starting in September, students at the high school will be starting at 8 a.m., with their day ending at 2:15 p.m.
Elementary schools on the route will now be starting later with Admiral Collingwood Elementary School running from 9:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (+15 minutes), Cameron Street Public School running from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (+10 minutes), Connaught Public School running from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (+10 minutes) and Nottawa Public School running from 9:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. (+20 minutes).
The move is expected to eliminate the need for five full-size buses, and will save $250,000 annually for the public board.
On the Midland route, Georgian Bay District Secondary School’s bell times previously were 8:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Starting in September, students will start at 8 a.m. with their day ending at 2:15 p.m. St. Theresa’s Catholic High School will also be starting 50 minutes earlier, with new bell times of 8:05 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Elementary schools on the route will now be starting later with Mundy’s Bay Public School running from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (+20 minutes), Huron Park Public School running from 9:15 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (+15 minutes), James Keating Public School running from 9:15 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (+15 minutes), Sacred Heart Catholic School running from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (+15 minutes) and Canadian Martyrs Catholic School running from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (+15 minutes).
This move is expected to eliminate the need for four full-size buses and one 22-passenger vehicle and would save $150,000 for the public board, and $100,000 for the Catholic board.
The Tottenham route will impact bell times at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School and Father F.X. O’Reilly Elementary School.
The Alliston route will impact bell times at Alliston Union Public School, Boyne River Public School, Ernest Cumberland Public School, Tecumseth South Central Public School and Monsignor J.E. Ronan.
Director of education with the SCDSB Steve Blake discussed the frustration experienced at the board level over the years due to the Catholic school board’s “unwillingness” over the years to adjust school start times.
“(There have been) frustrations we have faced in terms of seeing hundreds of thousands of dollars slip away in savings because of the co-terminus board’s reluctance to make the bell time changes,” said Blake, adding that he had spoken to the director of education with the Catholic board in the past about his concerns.
“We’re hoping they’ll make the right move so both boards can reap the benefits of these savings,” said Blake.
During the Catholic board’s Mar. 9 special budget meeting, Suzanne Olimer, superintendent of business and finance, presented a report outlining the Catholic board’s intention to also agree to the changes, which was received for information by trustees. She acknowledged in her report that the public board had been requesting the change for many years, and that this year, the Catholic board is expecting a $1.2 million budget shortfall for the 2021-22 school year.
“As difficult as this decision was, this change will align with other schools in our jurisdiction and provide necessary savings,” wrote Olimer in her report.
Both school boards told CollingwoodToday.ca that communications will be sent out to families of affected students to advise them of their new start times.
