Pinellas Schools Propose Early Start Times for Efficiency

0:00Pinellas County school leaders are eyeing big shifts to star times at three high schools in one middle school, all to streamline bus routes. St. Pete High in the Needin High would kick off at 7.45 a.m. Largo High a bit earlier at 7.35 a.m. and the real shakeup hits. Largo Middle School jumping from 9.40 a.m. to 7.25 a.m. that's over two hours ahead. The push comes down to transportation smarts with drivers handling three runs each morning for high schools, elementary and middles. Officials want tighter schedules so buses can double up routes without wasting time or fuel. Families, especially at Largo Middle, could feel this in their morning grind, scrambling earlier wake-ups and new drop-off vibes. It's a district-wide efficiency play, but parents might push back on the routine wreck. These times are flexible, give or take 15 minutes, and the plan could roll out to more schools down the line. The school boards voting on it tonight. If it passes, expect these tweaks next school year,

1:02reshaping commutes across the county while chasing those bus savings. That's your Tampa Bay News today update. AI powered and always on.