Cumberland County Schools considering changes to start times. What parents need to know.

Rachael Riley, Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read

Cumberland County Schools officials are considering changing bell schedules at 10 elementary schools, which could mean earlier starts or later endings to the day.

The proposal was shared with employees and families at impacted schools Monday, CCS spokesman Linsday Whitley said.

“A final decision has not been made,” Whitley said.

Parents and employees were asked to share their thoughts through an online survey at ccs.k12.nc.us/bellschedule until 5 p.m. Monday.

Cumberland County Schools are considering consolidating some bus routes, which could mean earlier start times and later releases for 10 elementary schools in the district.
Cumberland County Schools are considering consolidating some bus routes, which could mean earlier start times and later releases for 10 elementary schools in the district.

Reasons for proposed changes

An announcement on the school district’s website states that the changes are being considered because of a decrease in student bus ridership since returning to in-person learning after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic, 26,000 students rode 427 buses daily. Currently, 22,579 students ride 420 buses, according to the announcement.

Other reasons are that the changes could mean:

  • Updating routes to consolidate those that are closer together and creating reliable routes with fewer delays and less crowded roads. "This would mean that we would need fewer buses and save money,” the announcement states.

  • Saving money on things like fuel and maintenance.

The schools identified for the proposed changes are:

Pine Forest District

Raleigh Road Elementary School in Linden.

Current schedule: 8:15 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

Proposed change: 7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.

Long Hill Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Current schedule: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Proposed change: 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Seventy-First District

E.E. Miller Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Current schedule: 7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

Proposed change: 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Lake Rim Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Current schedule: 7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

Proposed change: 7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.

Cape Fear District

J.W. Seabrook Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Current bell schedule: 7:45 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.

Proposed change: 7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.

Sunnyside Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Current schedule: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Proposed change: 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Armstrong Elementary School in Eastover.

Current schedule: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Proposed change: 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

District 7 Elementary School in Wade.

Current schedule: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Proposed change: 7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.

Eastover-Central Elementary School in Eastover.

Current schedule: 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Proposed change: 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

E.E. Smith District

Ferguson-Easley Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Current schedule: 7:45 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.

Proposed change: 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Is Cumberland County Schools changing start and end times?