In order to alleviate the problem of late buses, the Sunnyside Unified School District is proposing to change start and dismissal times at 10 elementary schools.
Under the proposal, the school day would start 10 minutes later and last 10 minutes longer at the following schools: Drexel, Elvira, Esperanza, Gallego, Liberty, Los Niños, Los Ranchitos, Mission Manor, Rivera and Santa Clara.
The reason for late buses at the elementary schools is that the drivers pick up and drop off Sunnyside High and Desert View High students, and then turn around and attend to the elementary students, said Steve Holmes, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Under the plan, the school day at the affected elementary schools would be 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. It currently is 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Thirty-three buses are used for transportation services at Desert View, and 17 buses are used at Sunnyside.
People are also reading…
Last month, release time adjustments were made at the high schools to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Holmes said. The schedule for those days is 7:20 a.m. to 2 p.m., ending the school day 10 minutes earlier.
Also, preschool special education students at Ocotillo Early Learning Center are being released at 12:30 p.m. and no longer at 1 p.m. This affects 56 students at Ocotillo. The change allows for a more efficient pickup schedule for early releases at the elementary and high schools, Holmes said.
The time adjustments at Sunnyside, Desert View and Ocotillo are in compliance with the required instructional minutes students must receive under state requirements, Holmes said.
The district sent out letters to parents about the changes that have been implemented, and the proposed changes at the elementary schools. Parents also received information through the district's ParentLink phone messaging system, email and text.
Liberty school site housing
In another matter, on Aug. 28 the Governing Board voted 4-0 to have its counsel draw up a lease-purchase agreement draft for the old Liberty school site to be developed into low-income housing for women veterans and their children.
The district, which supports the project, also will call for bids for an appraisal of the property.
The lease-purchase document was needed by the Amity Foundation to proceed in applying for a pre-development loan for the $10 million housing project.
Last month, Garry Brav, president of BFL Construction Co., presented a proposal for the building of a 65-unit apartment complex at 5101 S. Liberty Ave. The deteriorating property is next to the district's alternative high school, STAR Academic Center.
The nonprofit foundation intends to build the Amity Center for Women Veterans - consisting of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including a community facility, a child-care center and offices for case managers and job counselors.
In the plan, the foundation proposes acquiring the site by either a straight purchase as is, or a long-term lease-purchase agreement.
The Amity Foundation will be hosting community meetings about the plans.
If the proposed project is approved, construction would begin in the fall of 2013 and it would take about one year to complete.
If you go
A public meeting is set today from 5 to 6 p.m. in the board room at district headquarters, 2238 E. Ginter Road, for parents to voice their concerns about transportation issues and the proposed starting and dismissal times for elementary schools.
A meeting for teachers about the plan is also today from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the board room.
On next Tuesday, a 5:30 p.m. special study session about transportation is scheduled in the board room before the Governing Board's regular 6:30 p.m. meeting. The board plans to take action on the elementary school time adjustments.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4104 or cduarte@azstarnet.com
