Indian River School District implements new start, end times for 2022-23

The Indian River school board voted Feb. 28 to approve new daily starting and ending times for all district schools for the 2022-23 school year. 

Changes are designed to reduce overcrowding on buses, equalize instructional time for all schools, and address the current bus driver shortage, traffic congestion in some areas and transportation route changes that will become necessary when Howard T. Ennis School moves into its new facility north of Millsboro. 

The most significant changes will be at the elementary level, where starting times will be pushed back between 10 and 80 minutes, depending on the school. East Millsboro and Phillip C. Showell elementaries will each start and end more than an hour later compared to the current school year.  

The school day for Southern Delaware School of the Arts has also been lengthened so its daily instructional time is the same as other district schools. In addition, SDSA students will only ride school buses with other SDSA students.  

The new schedule will increase bus capacities for middle and high schools, ease morning and afternoon traffic congestion in the towns of Millsboro and Selbyville, and bring IRSD starting and ending times in line with other Sussex County school districts. 

For specific school start times, go to irsd.net.