Share this page on Social Media

School District of Lee County Launches Safe Start Initiative

School District of Lee County Launches Safe Start Initiative
Posted on 04/09/2025
School District of Lee County Launches Safe Start Initiative

The School Board of Lee County approved the Safe Start Initiative bell times for the 2025-2026 school year starting in August at their April 8, 2025 action meeting. The Safe Start Initiative adjusts school start times to align with the School District’s priorities of safe schools and student achievement.

“The Safe Start Initiative is a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and efficiency of our transportation system,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin. “It reflects our commitment to creating an environment where students and staff can thrive. This plan is about more than schedules; it’s about making our system safer, more reliable, and sustainable for the future in the School District of Lee County.”

The Safe Start Initiative creates three tiers of start times instead of the current four. The new school start and end times for the 2025-2026 school year are:

  • High Schools: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • K-8’s, Skyline Elementary, and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary: 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • All other Elementary Schools: 8:40 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.
  • Middle Schools: 9:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

The three-tiered start system builds upon the efficiency already provided to busing by proximity-based school assignment zones. Spacing start and end times for each tier an hour apart allows drivers to finish one tier before moving on to the next. Students will spend less time waiting for a bus and more time engaged in learning. Drivers will be more focused on safety and reliability.

In addition to the new start times, high school classes are being extended to 49 minutes and lunch to 30 minutes, pushing dismissal to 2:00 p.m. The extra instruction adds 42 hours of class time during the 2025-2026 school year. It will make secondary students more competitive with their peers in other districts and help to better meet statutory requirements in case of severe weather closures. An additional 15 minutes at the elementary and middle school level supports the time needed for 30-minute lunch breaks.