Galesburg District 205 is considering delaying start times at Lombard Middle School to address parent concerns about early bus pickups and scheduling gaps for families with multiple students.
The proposals, outlined in a January 2026 First Services analysis, respond to feedback including public comment at the January 12 board meeting from a parent with children at both Lombard and Steele Elementary School. The parent highlighted wake-up times as early as 5 a.m. for bus riders and three-hour morning routines due to staggered starts.
Superintendent John Asplund said the district aims to adjust times without major costs, noting transportation funding challenges.
“We’ve had some folks that have voiced their concerns that Lombard starts really early, and it does,” Asplund said. “We’re looking at ways to move it back a little bit to try to help families out without costing us more transportation.”
Lombard currently starts at 7:30 a.m. and dismisses at 2:15 p.m.
Option 1 shifts Lombard to 7:55 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., a 25-minute delay, with separate bus routes from Galesburg Junior/Senior High School at no additional cost. Option 2 moves it to 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., a 45-minute delay, but adds $346,521 annually for extra buses to cover kindergarten through fourth grade routes.
Asplund favors the first option if staffing issues can be resolved. “At this moment, that looks to be cost-neutral,” he said. “We’re not 100 percent certain, and I would hate to recommend a change this month and then realize we have to hire two new staff members.”
| Proposal | Lombard Bell Times | GJSHS Bell Times | Additional Cost | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. | 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. | N/A | Shared routes cause some morning delays |
| Option 1 | 7:55 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. | No change | $0 | Separate routes, less traffic |
| Option 2 | 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. | No change | $346,521 | Separate routes, extra buses for K-4 pm |
Also, the district must review boundaries annually by board policy. Proposed changes would move areas from Steele to Silas Willard in Home Boulevard and Lincoln Park Drive, and from Silas Willard to King in Third and Cedar near the Fourth Street bridge, to balance enrollment without added staff.
Steele continues to grow, Asplund said, but changes could be avoided if opposed.
“We can keep it where it is,” he said. “We’re just trying to take the pressure off it a little bit.”
Both the Lombard bell times and the boundary issues will only be discussion items Monday, with votes expected in March.
Monday’s meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the district office at 940 W. Fremont St. The meeting also will be live-streamed on the D205 YouTube channel.
