All U-46 Elementary Schools to Start at 7:55 AM in New School Year

District adjusts schedules to ensure on-time bus arrivals and reduce delays

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Starting August 27, all District U-46 elementary schools in Illinois will begin classes at 7:55 AM and end at 2:15 PM, while middle schools will start 5 minutes later at 9:05 AM. The changes are aimed at keeping bus schedules on time and reducing delays across the district.

Why it matters

The schedule adjustments are part of a broader effort by U-46 to improve transportation efficiency and reliability for students across its 38 elementary schools. Aligning start times is expected to help buses run on schedule and avoid delays that can disrupt learning.

The details

Under the current schedule, half of U-46's elementary schools start at 7:50 AM and the other half at 8:20 AM. The new unified 7:55 AM start time for all elementary schools is intended to streamline bus routes and arrivals. Middle schools will also shift their start time 5 minutes later to 9:05 AM. High school hours remain unchanged at 7:40 AM to 2:55 PM.

  • The 2026-27 school year will begin on Thursday, August 27, about 2 weeks later than normal.
  • Barring any emergency days, the last day of school will be Wednesday, June 9, 2027.

The players

Kyle VonSchnase

U-46 Deputy Superintendent of Operations, who announced the schedule changes in a memo to staff, parents, and the community.

Lela Majstorovic

U-46 Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, who reported strong early enrollment for the 2026-27 school year at a recent school board meeting.

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What they’re saying

“Currently over 30% of our projected 884 known kindergarten students have already registered through early registration. We anticipate that number will continue to grow as we move toward districtwide registration opening.”

— Lela Majstorovic, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction (School Board Meeting)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.