by Krystal Paco

GUAM - Effective today, the Santa Rita campus starts classes at 6:50 a.m. and dismisses at 1:20 in the afternoon to better accommodate all southern district schools.

SHS assistant principal Gaylene Cruz explained, "The ongoing issues with the southern schools, they were having bus issues. So by the time they get from one school to another, the proximity and they only share one bus fleet what happens is it delays an elementary school and a middle school so it's a trickle effect."

So far, Cruz says the biggest concern is students arriving to bus stops before the sun comes up but says mayors are working to implement better lighting.

DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez wants to clarify that students do not need to be at bus stops earlier than 5:30 a.m., when DPW does its first pickup.

Fernandez says he will continue to work with DPW to address southern busing issues as well as monitor student performance as a result of the changes.