Three elementary schools move to a 9 a.m. start, arts school to 8 a.m.

What happened

On July 1, 2026 the school committee voted unanimously to change bell times: Curvin-McCabe, Agnes E. Little and Potter-Burns elementary schools move to a 9:00 a.m. start, and the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts moves from 7:50 to 8:00 a.m. The change lets the district drop from three staggered bus tiers to two, cutting about three bus routes and saving roughly $360,000 a year. Earlier routing changes had already removed five buses and about $600,000. Free before-school care with breakfast starts at 8:00 a.m. at the three elementary schools.

Why it matters to families

A one-hour shift changes the school day for every family at four schools, including morning childcare, work schedules, and older siblings who drop younger ones off. Staff and parents told the committee they were not consulted and that the change came late in the summer; the district answered with a free 8:00 a.m. program and priority places for families with documented need.

The evidence

The approved July 1, 2026 minutes record the unanimous vote and the transportation figures: five buses and $600,000 already saved, three more buses and $360,000 from the bell change, for $960,000 in total. The July 28, 2026 minutes record the free before-school program beginning at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast.

The source