District to change elementary start time
By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-HeraldGLOVERSVILLE - Elementary pupils in the Gloversville Enlarged School District will be able to sleep a little longer this coming school year, because the start of their school day will be pushed back.
Superintendent Robert DeLilli informed the Board of Education at its meeting Monday elementary pupils will start their day sometime after 8:30 a.m., the time classes started last school year.
On Tuesday, DeLilli said the school day for elementary pupils will begin between 8:30 and 9 a.m., although the exact time has not been decided.
"There are some details that need to be worked out still," he said.
The collective bargaining agreement the school district has with its teachers has certain requirements that need to be taken into account before a time can be decided upon, DeLilli said.
The idea was carried over from budget sessions conducted by the school district in April when it was determining how it could trim its budget, he said. It was not highly thought of until the school district's director of operations, Bill Ferguson, began looking into how much money could be saved.
Ferguson could not be reached for comment.
"Tens of thousands of dollars" would be saved every school year by delaying the start of elementary school, DeLilli said.
A later start time will allow the school district to transport its students to classes more
efficiently, DeLilli said. Pushing back the start time means more buses transporting high school and middle school pupils, whose day starts at approximately 7:45 a.m., will be able to drop off the older pupils and head back out to pick up elementary kids.
In addition to reducing the number of buses on the road for morning pickup, DeLilli said, at least one driver will have time to transport special education pupils as far as Albany. That will save the school district some money because it is a service it has had to contract out for in the past, he said.
In light of the potential savings, DeLilli stressed the need for the school district's bus referendum to be passed.
The school district has a proposed bond of $190,000 up for vote Aug. 18 to be used for the purchase of new school buses and transportation vehicles.
Since voters declined to approve the bond in May by a vote of 876-728, school district officials have been urging people to vote in favor of the next referendum because the state will reimburse 90 percent of the cost for vehicles purchased with the bond.
The money could be used to acquire a new van that would help the school district transport its special education pupils outside of its area.
While a large bus could be used to transport the special education pupils who need to go as far as Albany, DeLilli said, it would cost a lot more than it has to.
DeLilli said the elementary pupils will not spend less time in class despite starting later in the day.
At the meeting Monday, a number of board members said they were pleased with the idea.
Board member E. Lynn Brown said reducing transportation costs often has been discussed in the school district, and it was excellent to see the administrative staff "thinking outside of the box."
Board member Harry Wiggins anticipates some negative comments accompanying the later start to the school day, but is not concerned.
"People cannot see past their own little world sometimes," he said.
Rodney Minor covers Gloversville. He can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.
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sbdknitter
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07-25-08 3:44 PM
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I didn't want to come right out and say that, sorry. I still get a lot of grief for any opinions I offer despite the fact I haven't worked there in over a year.
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candlelady
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07-25-08 2:29 PM
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sbdknitter: I had a feeling Nancy was passing the buck!
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sbdknitter
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07-25-08 10:10 AM
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Candlelady, I worked for the district. I know the procedure regardless of what you were told. She had the final say on what bus went where when and how.
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Wilkie
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07-24-08 10:32 PM
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Yes livehereworkhere...the cream at the top is a huge issue. Why do we need assistant admistrators at the elementary level? That's a joke! The union is an even bigger problem.
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candlelady
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07-24-08 9:44 PM
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sbdknitter: I got my info straight from Nancy Christman (bus run schedule).
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livehereworkhere
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07-24-08 8:17 PM
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Wilkie if you can make a call and get the district to change direction. Than place one for me and get some of the cream at the top scrapped off. I know I am tired of seeing programs and personal sent to the chopping block every time money is running low. My kid deserves better and so does everyone else's.
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sbdknitter
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07-24-08 5:55 PM
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The drivers do NOT make up their own bus runs. The coordinator does it.
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ReclaimGville
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07-24-08 1:03 PM
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you would think they would pick up the child the furthest away and work their way towards the school. Just a thought as always.
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candlelady
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07-24-08 12:26 PM
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Lucycat: That is also the bulk of my daughter's diagnosis.
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candlelady
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07-24-08 12:25 PM
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When I called the bus garage last Oct to ask why the bus ride went from 20 minutes to 1 1/2 hours (given we only moved literally 2 blocks away), I was told the drivers make up the bus runs. But I also know that it was due to having to pick up all the grade levels. And the fact that I complained to transportation that the driver was not waiting till the students were seating before moving the bus. My daughter has a friend (former classmate) who has been on the list for lexington for almost 4 years! They are waiting for placement in a suitable house. So I guess 2 years isn't something to complain about! Thank you all for well wishes and offers! We just make sure her iPod is fully charged and she has enough magazines to read!
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lucycat43
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07-24-08 11:11 AM
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My grandson has developmental disabilities and Asperger's. He is a student at the middle school. We drive him to school as that hour bus ride sent him over the edge and he lives less than a mile from the school. I do not understand keeping these special needs kids on a bus for that long, then when they have a meltdown, parents get a notice that their child is "disruptive" and may lose the bus priviledge. The wait for placement at a Lexington house is very long. One thing I have a problem with is that local residents should be given preference over someone who is not living in the area.
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Wilkie
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07-24-08 10:33 AM
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Candlelady...if it doesn't improve let me know and I will make some calls on your behalf. There are several BOE members who post on here so let's hope they read this and do what they can to help. What is Lexington telling you? Is 2 years on the waiting list the norm?
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Onesies
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07-24-08 10:19 AM
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I hope so too Wilkie. An hour and a half on a school bus every day is pure torture....especially when you can see the school from your home! I wish I had the time to personally give her a ride to school, Id really like to help the candlelady out
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Wilkie
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07-24-08 10:06 AM
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Wow! It's great that we have this program for her. Let's hope her bus ride is more reasonable this year.
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Onesies
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07-24-08 10:03 AM
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Good luck candlelady, hope everything works out. But dont put your daughter down, its really hard to get out of a wet paper bag, whether youre handicap or not
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candlelady
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07-24-08 9:48 AM
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Wilkie: She is returning again in September as a post-grad. An hour and a half bus ride for any student is alot! NYS allows special ed students to stay in school until they are 21. Since most cannot attend college, this allows them to continue learning, reinforce what they have learned, and keep them in a structured environment. We are awaiting placement in a Lexington Assisted Living Home (she's been on the waiting list for 2 years!).
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Wilkie
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07-24-08 9:39 AM
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Candlelady....it's unfortunate that this change came too late for your daughter. It seems like the district should have been able to coordinate her pickup to limit her ride being that you are only 4 blocks away. Have a great day!
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candlelady
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07-24-08 9:26 AM
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Personally, I think this is fantastic! My oldest is a special-ed, post-grad at GHS. Her morning bus ride was 1 1/2 hours!!! And we live 4 blocks from the school! And before any of you get all worked up over her taking the bus to school since we live so closely, you should be aware that my daughter wouldn't be able to find her way out of a paper bag. It's part of her disability.
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Griffin
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07-24-08 7:20 AM
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Our school works really hard with the Special Ed Students and family to put each child in the right program for each ones personal needs. I guess if you don't have or work with a child of a special need you wouldn't understand. Not every child can play a sport or in the band, But they all need schooling, and socialization skills. And if you understood what a child with special needs means- you would then understand that Lexington - don't offer the same services for all the Spcial Ed. children. Special Ed is a wide range of children LOOK INTO IT and YOU WILL FEEL BETTER !!!
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morningstar
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07-23-08 9:08 PM
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Well, sometimes it's a matter of h the students who have disabilities that fall in the Autism spectrum. Other times, it's emotionally disabled students. There are actually several examples. With Individual Edcation Plans that coincide with known programs that work with those students, it could end up being more costly to the school to implement such a program than to bus them. For instance, one student may require certain technological aids, along with a 1:1 aid, along with a specialist, physical therapists, etc. Believe me, districts try to keep kids within the district, but sometimes it is impossible and far less cost effective. All of this is completely different from Lexington services.
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InnocentParty
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07-23-08 7:15 PM
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That would be my question as well, Floridian. Especially having Lexington right in Gloversville.
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Floridian
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07-23-08 5:16 PM
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If anyone could answer this one for me...what type of Student's With Disabilities are being transported to Albany because there is not a local program in the GESD ? What "program" is missing in the GESD ? It seems to me between the highly qualified instructional personel in GESD, and BOCES, all of the student's needs could be met. What disability/individuality requires a 50 mile road trip ? What am I missing here ? I am not being nasty, I am just curious as to what is missing in the local structure ?
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Wilkie
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07-23-08 5:03 PM
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Come on teebzz! Nobody likes a quitter.
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teebzz
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07-23-08 4:56 PM
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too many words, everyone's so smart. just point me in a direction of a bus, i dont care where its going.
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Wilkie
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07-23-08 4:26 PM
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Did Harry Wiggins really say that? Wow! Wonder what the BOE members that have posted on here the last 2 days think of that comment?
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