Why a KY superintendent is beginning the day earlier at three elementary schools

To solve a bus driver shortage, Madison County Schools is moving the start time of three of its elementary schools from 8 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., said district spokesperson Erin Stewart.

Like many school districts across the state, Madison County Schools has faced the challenges of a bus driver shortage, a district news release said.

“Of the 11 elementary schools in our district, five will be on the 7:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. schedule. Daniel Boone Elementary and Silver Creek Elementary have been on that schedule for many years. We are adding the other three in the fall - Boonesborough Elementary, Kirksville Elementary, and Waco Elementary,” Stewart said.

The shortage is leaving the district to “adjust in the best ways we can” to keep getting students to and from school, the district said in its news release.

“Many routes had to run late; some routes had to be consolidated creating crowded buses and longer ride times,” the news release said. “These were only short-term solutions. Adjusting the school day times for three additional elementary schools will allow drivers time to pick up students for an elementary route as well as a middle/high school route. “

“We have exhausted every possible temporary solution for transportation,” said Superintendent Randy Neeley. “Our next step is to take more permanent action to relieve some of the stress placed on our transportation department.”

With the shortage of bus drivers, “we have found ourselves having to run late bus routes more days than not this school year,” said Stewart.

“The trickle down effect of running late buses because we simply don’t have enough drivers means everyone is affected - students and staff alike, as well as families,” she said.

Nationally, “many districts that have changed start times have flipped bus schedules, so elementary schools now start the earliest,” according to the National Education Association.

The NEA quoted Joseph Buckhalt, a professor at Auburn University.

“The thinking is that since sleep deprivation is an issue for older students, the [younger] children can handle starting school much earlier and free up bus routes in the process,” Buckhalt explains. “So far, studies have shown that these earlier start times have not had a discernible negative impact on elementary students.”

“We realize that families at those schools will be affected by the adjusted times, and we appreciate their cooperation in making the change,” Neeley, the Madison County Superintendent said.

The adjusted start times will begin on the first day of the 2026-2027 school year — Thursday, Aug. 13.

This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 3:31 PM.