Staggered start days in Boaz schools this week
By DONNA THORNTON, Editor
As young Aggies head off to school this week, there are some changes in the start and the finish of their school day, as well as some changes for bus riders.
Albertville City School Superintendent Bart Reeves explained the changes for students — and their parents or guardians – and the reasons the changes were needed.
“This time last year, as we were getting ready to start school, we had 12 bus drivers that we could call on to sub at any time that we needed them,” Reeves said. “Going into this year, we only have two bus drivers.”
That means when students go back to class, if more than two bus drivers call out sick on the same day, that would create a problem, he said.
A driver would have to run a route then run a second route for the ailing driver, picking up students who didn’t get picked up at regular time. “The problem is they’re going to be late,” Reeves said, in getting kids to school in the morning.
It would be the same procedure with afternoon outages — with students getting home later than normal.
To alleviate that problem, the school system is going to test out a change in start and end times for students.
“We’re trying to spread out the time between elementary schools and the secondary or high schools starting,” he said. It will allow a driver the get elementary school students to school on time, and if needed, run a route to pick up students going to secondary schools and get them to school – also on time – at their later starting time.
This is the school start/end time schedule ACS will pilot this school year:
AKPK 7:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m.
APS 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
AES 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
AIS 8:05 a.m.-3:05 p.m.
AMS 8:10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
AIA 8:10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
AHS 8:10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
All school buildings will be open 30 before the school start time, with plans to open Albertville Intermediate School 45 minutes before 7:20 a.m.
There will be a designated place for school employees’ children after school who end their day at 3:30 p.m.
There are some other changes where transportation is concerned.
Home only
Students will be transported only to the primary home address currently on file with the school system. Transportation to babysitters, relatives, or friends’ homes or alternative childcare locations will not be permitted.
“We have over 3,000 students who ride the bus daily. We have 55 routes,” Reeves said. It can get complicated, trying to deliver students to various locations.
The rationale for delivery only to their home address is that it promotes safety, ensures route consistency, and supports accountability.
When a parent or guardian needs to change a student’s address, there will be a minimum waiting period of 48 hours required before the student may begin riding a different bus route associated with the new address, to allow the school system to verify residency documentation, update transportation records, safely adjust routes, and communicate the changes being made.
Community stops
For students in grades 5-12, bus stops will be established at centralized points with a minimum distance of two-tenths of a mile between stope whenever its practical and safe.
The change is designed to improve route efficiency, reduce overall ride times, decrease fuel consumption, and allow for mor consistent schedules.
Reeves said when its safe and practical to serve multiple students with a centralized stop, that’s what will occur. If there are 10 or 12 houses located together, the bus will stop at one location to pick up students within two-tenths of a mile. That’s no further than a walk around the track, the superintendent said.
Fraudulent address
enforcement
If a parent or guardian is found to be providing fraudulent residency information for the purpose of school enrollment or to obtain bus transportation services, their student’s bus transportation privileges will be revoked.
ACS wants to ensure fair transportation access to students rightfully enrolled in its schools, support accurate route planning, ensure compliance with district enrollment policies, and protest the integrity of attendance zones and transportation operations.
Supervision requirement
For students in grades K-4, an adult or responsible individual must be present at the resident when the bus arrives for afternoon drop-off. If no one is present, there will be a warning on a first offense, and loss of bus privileges if there’s a second occurrence.
ACS wants to ensure students safety after school, and to prevent unsafe situations.
All students will receive free breakfast and lunch in the upcoming school year, Reeves said.
Reeves said parents and students should register for Parent Square and Student Square. “If students are in band or sports, this is how we’re going to communicate with them.”
Reeves said the Albertville City Schools website is the best source for back to school news, registration for those apps, and school supply lists, among other information. That’s at albertk.12.org.
Boaz City Schools
Boaz City students go back to class with staggered start days
Boaz City Schools — at least some of them — headed back to class Wednesday, too, after a busy summer and a lot of paving work at several school facilities.
The 2026-27 school year begins Wednesday with a staggered start schedule, too, but in terms of the starting day, not the time. Pre-K to first graders will (or may have already) received a letter from their teacher with their start schedule for Wednesday to Friday.
At Corley Elementary, Boaz Intermediate School, and Boaz Middle School students whose last name starts with A-K will report for class Wednesday and students with last names starting with L-Z will have a starting date of Thursdsay. Friday, all students will attend.
At Boaz High School, ninth graders start their school year Friday while upperclassmen (10th-12th graders) report on Thursday. Friday, all high school students will attend.
Back-to-school events are slated this week Boaz Elementary, Corley, Boaz Intermediate and Boaz Middle schools.
Visit the Boaz City Schools online at boazk12.org.
Members of the award-winning Aggie Band perform for Albertville City Schools employees last week during the district’s Institute event, part of the preparations for the 2026-27 school year. Students are returning to class this week in the Albertville and Boaz school systems. Photo by DONNA THORNTON l The Leader
