Achievements
In 2021-2022, the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) together with the Durham District School Board (DDSB) and Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) completed a Bell Time Study. In February 2022, DCDSB students and families were invited to attend joint virtual public consultation sessions regarding the proposed bell time changes.
The bell time review was initiated to manage bus capacity while addressing driver shortages, eliminating the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. secondary schedule, minimizing changes to the elementary school day, ensuring that students eligible for transportation can continue to take the bus; and maintaining maximum travel time for students at one hour wherever possible.
As various factors change (COVID-19 pandemic, school closures, new school openings, driver shortages, traffic congestion and changing enrolment) DSTS had to examine its transportation routes and schedules to determine whether adjustments were needed to maintain or increase efficiency. Bell times and bussing schedules are a complex, interconnected system. A small change to the bell time of one school can have a ripple effect on the bell times of multiple other schools, increase ride times, or bus availability for other students.
In April 2022, DCDSB's Board of Trustees approved the Bell Time Study that ended the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule for the majority of the board's secondary schools. The Bell Time Study enabled transportation services for all students to be maintained without impacting supports and services. The study also resulted in a reduction of the DSTS' carbon footprint and allowed DSTS to adapt to increasing traffic congestion.
Highlights
- Eleven DCDSB schools received bell times as a result of the study.
- 8% to 12% more students bused with the same level of funding.
