NORTH PROVIDENCE – School officials say they’ve decided against changing school start times to start the 2026-2027 school year.
Supt. Joseph Goho reminded the School Committee at its June 15 meeting about recommendations they were contemplating for bus transportation efficiency, but said officials ultimately decided against making more sweeping changes for now. He said they did find some “low-hanging” efficiencies by working with Durham School Services and consultant TransPar Group.
School officials now believe that a fuller study to cover all dynamics, including those related to new elementary schools opening on one side of town, is in order, said Goho.
He said they’ll be working with Durham this fall and through January to take a more thorough look at routes, possibly adding a fourth tier as some communities have done, maybe having a couple of elementary schools start at different times, and potentially changing middle school start times. There might be something to proceed with and there might not, he said, but officials will take their time and be thorough, rather than trying to rush something this summer.
The Local Insider reported last month that school officials were contemplating changes to start and end times at some local schools, a move they say could improve bus transportation efficiency and reduce costs.
Supt. Joseph Goho explained at the April 29 school board meeting that Mario Carreño, of the Rhode Island Department of Education, appeared before the committee last fall to encourage them to participate in a statewide review of transportation by TransPar. The committee voted to do that then, he said, and officials had since met twice with the company.
