BURGAW, NC — The Pender County Board of Education has approved a transition to a three-tier bell schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. The change in schedule will be implemented only on the East side of the county and will not impact the transportation of Pender Early College High School students. The move is designed to address the district’s rapid growth, improve instructional time, and significantly enhance the efficiency of student transportation.
The approved schedule is as follows:
HIGH SCHOOL
BUS ARRIVAL/DROP OFF 6:50 AM
AM BELL - 7:10
PM BELL 2:05
EARLY RELEASE 11:10
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BUS ARRIVAL/DROP OFF 7:25
AM BELL - 7:55
PM BELL 2:50
EARLY RELEASE 11:55
MIDDLE SCHOOL
BUS ARRIVAL/DROP 8:10
AM BELL - 8:40
PM BELL 3:35
EARLY RELEASE 12:40
“This new schedule is a win-win for our district,” said Dr. Brad Breedlove, Superintendent of Pender County Schools. “It improves instructional time for students, while creating stable, full-time job opportunities for our drivers. Reducing the need for double and triple routes also means a better experience for families and a stronger focus on learning.”
Why the Change?
Pender County Schools has experienced significant growth in recent years, leading to increased demand on transportation and heightened safety concerns, particularly on campuses shared by multiple schools. The three-tier bell schedule aims to:
Prioritize and protect instructional time for all students.
Reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on several campuses.
Increase the potential for hiring and retaining career-status bus drivers.
Implementation
The three-tier bell schedule will take effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Schools impacted by the schedule change are:
North Topsail Elementary
South Topsail Elementary
Surf City Elementary
Topsail Annandale Elementary
Surf City Middle
Topsail Middle
Topsail High
Key Benefits for Bus Drivers and the Community
The three-tier bell schedule is a major step forward for Pender County Schools’ transportation program:
More Hours, More Opportunity: By staggering school start and end times, bus drivers can run more consecutive routes, increasing their daily work hours. This will help more drivers qualify as full-time employees, making them eligible for benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.
Attracting and Retaining Drivers: The opportunity for full-time status and benefits makes bus driving positions more attractive to current and prospective employees, helping the district recruit and retain career-status drivers.
Reduced Double and Triple Routes: The new schedule will significantly reduce or eliminate the need for double and triple bus routes, leading to more predictable schedules for drivers and more reliable service for students and families.
Less Reliance on Teaching Assistants: With fewer double and triple routes, teaching assistants will be able to spend more time supporting students in the classroom instead of driving buses.