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KISD to Adjust Next Year's Bell Schedule to Reduce Bus Delays
Killeen ISD is making strategic changes to next year’s school schedule to reduce bus delays and ensure students arrive on time, ready to learn. The Board of Trustees reviewed the plan at Tuesday’s meeting, where transportation officials outlined how these changes will benefit students and families.
Dr. Don Rowls, executive director for Transportation Services, explained that the current tiered bell schedule creates tight time windows, causing transportation delays. By adjusting school start and end times, the district can improve on-time bus arrivals and departures, creating a more efficient and family-friendly transportation system.
“We know that our current schedule creates challenges that do not support student success,” Rowls said. “We surveyed families in November to learn how adjusting the bell schedule might impact them. We then went back to the drawing board to create a plan that incorporated their feedback while also improving student outcomes. We believe this new schedule provides a more efficient system that better serves students and families.”
The new schedule is expected to improve bus punctuality and reduce delays—helping students start the school day on time and providing families with a more consistent routine.
Most schools will see a minor shift of 5 to 7 minutes, while some will experience more significant changes:
- Venable Village Elementary — Starts 35 minutes later
- Montague Elementary and Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary — Start 35 minutes earlier
- Saegert Elementary — Starts 25 minutes earlier
New Buses Added to Fleet
In other news, trustees approved the purchase of two new buses from Longhorn Bus Sales. With the footprint of the KISD spanning more than 400 square miles, the district’s bus fleet travels about 3 million miles a year. The new buses will add to the district’s aging fleet, bringing the total number of buses to 326.
Each new bus will accommodate 54 passengers and include three wheelchair spaces to enhance accessibility. The $323,878 purchase will be funded through the district’s General Fund budget.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Chaparral Road
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, trustees reviewed plans for pedestrian safety improvements between JDA Middle School and Chaparral High School. To enhance walkability, a new sidewalk will connect the two schools.
The $691,212 project includes redesigning the drainage channel and adding a continuous curb for increased safety. Funding will come from unspent contingencies and savings from the JDA Middle School construction budget. Work is expected to begin in early March and take about four months to complete.
The lighting design is still being finalized, and pricing will be provided to the Board at a future date.
