Pawtucket to start elementary schools later; district rolls out free 8 a.m. before-school supervision
July 31, 2026 | Pawtucket, School Districts, Rhode Island
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The Pawtucket School Department is implementing a new elementary bell schedule this fall and will provide a free before-school supervision program at the three impacted schools, Superintendent Buck told the School Committee on July 28.
"This before school program will be available at each of the 3 impacted elementary schools, Kerwin McCabe, Agnes Little, and Potter Burns," Buck said, adding the program will begin at 8 a.m., provide one hour of supervision prior to the new 9 a.m. start time, and allow access to the district breakfast program. He estimated the program could serve approximately 60 students at each school and said priority would go to families with documented need and siblings in secondary schools.
Multiple committee members and public commenters raised concerns about timing and outreach. Teacher and resident Amy Fitzpatrick said she and many building staff had not been surveyed and warned the compressed timeline (less than a month before school starts) risks placing burdens on families and staff schedules.
"How are we saving $300,000 when there will have to be coverage for students arriving an hour earlier than school starting?" Fitzpatrick asked, urging clearer communication and a regular schedule of reports on how the new bell times affect families and attendance.
The superintendent said transportation routes were redesigned to maintain efficiencies and that eliminating approximately three bus routes would yield an estimated $360,000 in annual transportation savings while minimizing disruption. He also said the district is finalizing staffing and operations, coordinating with Aramark to ensure breakfast service, and preparing a communications package with registration, transportation details and FAQs to be shared with families in the coming days.
Committee members requested an update to be shared with the committee by Aug. 15 and asked for continued monitoring and reporting once the school year begins.
"This before school program will be available at each of the 3 impacted elementary schools, Kerwin McCabe, Agnes Little, and Potter Burns," Buck said, adding the program will begin at 8 a.m., provide one hour of supervision prior to the new 9 a.m. start time, and allow access to the district breakfast program. He estimated the program could serve approximately 60 students at each school and said priority would go to families with documented need and siblings in secondary schools.
Multiple committee members and public commenters raised concerns about timing and outreach. Teacher and resident Amy Fitzpatrick said she and many building staff had not been surveyed and warned the compressed timeline (less than a month before school starts) risks placing burdens on families and staff schedules.
"How are we saving $300,000 when there will have to be coverage for students arriving an hour earlier than school starting?" Fitzpatrick asked, urging clearer communication and a regular schedule of reports on how the new bell times affect families and attendance.
The superintendent said transportation routes were redesigned to maintain efficiencies and that eliminating approximately three bus routes would yield an estimated $360,000 in annual transportation savings while minimizing disruption. He also said the district is finalizing staffing and operations, coordinating with Aramark to ensure breakfast service, and preparing a communications package with registration, transportation details and FAQs to be shared with families in the coming days.
Committee members requested an update to be shared with the committee by Aug. 15 and asked for continued monitoring and reporting once the school year begins.
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