AACPS Parents Upset About School Start Times, Dismissals

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Parents expressed concerns about bus schedules and school start times and dismissal times for the 2019-2020 school year at the latest Anne Arundel County Public Schools board meeting.

The bus schedules were generated by new bus routing software the district purchased for $473,000. The software generated more than 15,000 stops across the school district with a target goal of reducing manual labor and inefficiencies. However, 12 schools will start at 9:30 a.m. or later and be dismissed at 3:55 p.m. or later.

During the school board meeting, board member Dana Schallheim said the district is "squandering prime learning time" with the later start dates that also cut into the time allocated for extracurricular activities. Board member Candace Antwine expressed concern about students getting off the bus at later times making it "very unsafe" for them.

During the meeting, one mom said a later dismissal time from Folger McKinsey Elementary, which starts at 9:40 a.m. and ends at 4;05 p.m., will mess up her daughter's medication schedule.

Alex Szachnowicz, chief operating officer for the school system, told everyone at the meeting that the bus schedules are still being updated.

“There will be changes that will continue to be made as we analyze it and as we receive feedback,” he told the board.

Buses will test run routes Aug. 28 to determine if any changes should be made, reported the Baltimore Sun.