FCPS appears to be considering adding changing start time to 2026 Rezoning per Board Docs

[Anonymous]

Posted in Board docs for the 8/26 School Board Work Session meeting is a document that appears to state that FCPS is adding changing all start times when they rezone Fall 2026. Changing start times will significantly impact High School and Elementary start and end times, not just "middle school" as FCPS repeatedly tries to fram the issue. There is no way to change middle schools to a convenient 8:00-3:00 without pushing high schools and elementary schools either MUCH later, or MUCH earlier. FCPS simply does not have the busses.

Here is the link for the FCPS Board Docs for 8/26

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DKSU827AC0D8/$file/Integration%20of%20Boundary%20Review%20%20Start%20Times%20August%2026.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Posted in Board docs for the 8/26 School Board Work Session meeting is a document that appears to state that FCPS is adding changing all start times when they rezone Fall 2026. Changing start times will significantly impact High School and Elementary start and end times, not just "middle school" as FCPS repeatedly tries to fram the issue. There is no way to change middle schools to a convenient 8:00-3:00 without pushing high schools and elementary schools either MUCH later, or MUCH earlier. FCPS simply does not have the busses.

Here is the link for the FCPS Board Docs for 8/26

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DKSU827AC0D8/$file/Integration%20of%20Boundary%20Review%20%20Start%20Times%20August%2026.pdf

All the more reasons to open KAA as a community Western High School instead of putting kids on long haul buses.

[Anonymous]

It only ever made sense to integrate the two plans.

However does ANYONE have any confidence that this school board and Gatehouse can make these major changes without making an utter cluster of them? Doubt it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It only ever made sense to integrate the two plans.

However does ANYONE have any confidence that this school board and Gatehouse can make these major changes without making an utter cluster of them? Doubt it...

Nope.

One potential solution is to set the start time for MS that share space or are adjacent to HSs to the same time. Hughes MS and SHLS are next to each other, share buses for those routes using the HS schedule. They already do this for the few Secodnary schools in the area.

If KAA includes the kids from Carson base schools, send KAA/Carson kids at the same time.

I am sure that there are other MSs that are adjacent to the HS where you could do this.

The ES start times they are recommending are ridiculous, some kids would not be home until 5:30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It only ever made sense to integrate the two plans.

However does ANYONE have any confidence that this school board and Gatehouse can make these major changes without making an utter cluster of them? Doubt it...

Nope.

One potential solution is to set the start time for MS that share space or are adjacent to HSs to the same time. Hughes MS and SHLS are next to each other, share buses for those routes using the HS schedule. They already do this for the few Secodnary schools in the area.

If KAA includes the kids from Carson base schools, send KAA/Carson kids at the same time.

I am sure that there are other MSs that are adjacent to the HS where you could do this.

The ES start times they are recommending are ridiculous, some kids would not be home until 5:30.

Frost is adjacent to Woodson but it would take some time for a single bus to get from one school to another. Not a ton, but some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It only ever made sense to integrate the two plans.

However does ANYONE have any confidence that this school board and Gatehouse can make these major changes without making an utter cluster of them? Doubt it...

Nope.

One potential solution is to set the start time for MS that share space or are adjacent to HSs to the same time. Hughes MS and SHLS are next to each other, share buses for those routes using the HS schedule. They already do this for the few Secodnary schools in the area.

If KAA includes the kids from Carson base schools, send KAA/Carson kids at the same time.

I am sure that there are other MSs that are adjacent to the HS where you could do this.

The ES start times they are recommending are ridiculous, some kids would not be home until 5:30.

Frost is adjacent to Woodson but it would take some time for a single bus to get from one school to another. Not a ton, but some.

Frost and Woodson shared buses for decades prior to the high school start times being made later. It was not difficult at all. The busses went to Woodson first, and then five minutes later went to Frost.

[Anonymous]

Maybe FCPS will wise up and start high school at 9:30 AM, like LCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe FCPS will wise up and start high school at 9:30 AM, like LCPS.

Terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

The bus from our neighborhood to Irving is already so overcrowded that the kids sit three to a seat. They wouldn't be able to add high school kids to that. They'd need to expand the number of bus routes, I imagine. I'm curious if they have enough buses for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe FCPS will wise up and start high school at 9:30 AM, like LCPS.

Practices for sports or music could be moved to the morning before school instead of after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe FCPS will wise up and start high school at 9:30 AM, like LCPS.

Practices for sports or music could be moved to the morning before school instead of after school.

Agree. Clubs and athletes can meet at 730am, and figure out carpool for those who need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe FCPS will wise up and start high school at 9:30 AM, like LCPS.

Practices for sports or music could be moved to the morning before school instead of after school.

Agree. Clubs and athletes can meet at 730am, and figure out carpool for those who need it.

Another terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe FCPS will wise up and start high school at 9:30 AM, like LCPS.

Terrible idea.

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

-LCPS parent

[Anonymous]

LCPS parents - what is the HS day? 9:30-??? How does this impact after school activities?

[Anonymous]

Yes sweetie, we knew this already.