WEST GOSHEN — West Chester Area School District could save $1.1 million next year by moving some bus stops and school schedules, district officials say.

Even so, the school board is unlikely to approve these cost-cutting measures this year.

School board finance committee members said Monday night they must first explain the rationale for these changes to parents and teachers. And the officials said they need time to address unanticipated consequences.

"The fallout from this decision is much larger … and there hasn't really been a lot of dialogue about it so far," said school board and finance committee member John Wingerter.

Wingerter and other committee members agree the changes are a good idea and should be implemented. But they said this may not be the year to do them.

Other school board members who attended Monday's meeting but do not serve on the committee agreed the district should wait, indicating the changes are unlikely to gain quick approval from the full board.

District Superintendent James Scanlon said he is willing to meet with parents soon to help prepare for the changes next budget year.

Officials say the $1.1 million savings come from three moves:

changing bell schedules at most district schools;

reducing the number of school bus stops; and

altering private and parochial school bus routes.

Officials said parents are concerned about these proposals, and the bell schedule changes could affect the timing of after-school activities, especially for middle school students.

The district proposes starting classes at East High School and Fugett Middle School, which share the same campus, at nearly the same time.

This means the middle school, which now holds classes from 8:05 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., would switch to a 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. school day.

District high schools run from 7:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. and would, if the change is implemented, run from 7:25 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Peirce and Stetson, the district's other two middle schools, now hold classes from 8:05 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. and would continue to do so.

The district also proposes having Fugett and East students ride buses together, a measure officials said will save money. Although some parents have expressed concerns about this arrangement, district officials say it is safe for middle and high school students to share buses.

The district also proposes staggering elementary school bell schedules to allow some buses to run two elementary school routes instead of one.

All 10 elementary schools now run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The new proposal calls for East Bradford, East Goshen, Glen Acres and Exton to run from 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. The other elementary schools would run from 9:10 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.

Some school board members lobbied to make the changes this year. District officials estimate the $1.1 million savings would reduce next year's school real estate tax increase from 3.8 percent to 2.9 percent.

Under Act 1, a state law that each year sets a limit on the percentage by which school districts may raise real estate taxes, the West Chester Area School District's possible 2010-11 tax increase is capped at 2.9 percent. But the district applied for an exemption that allows for a tax increase up to 3.8 percent.

District officials say they found about enough cuts to limit next year's tax increase to 3.8 percent. And some school board members noted that making the proposed bus and schedule changes would give the district a way to meet the Act 1 cap.

Otherwise, Scanlon said that by April 1 most teachers who plan to retire next year will have advised the district of their plans. If enough teachers retire, it might be possible to cut the tax increase to 2.9 percent without additional budget cuts, he said.

To contact staff writer Dan Kristie, send an e-mail to dkristie@dailylocal.com.