-- After just three weeks on the job, Dr. David Copeland is facing what could prove to be one of the most popular or unpopular decisions he'll ever make as the Madison County Schools superintendent.

With the rising cost of gas and a school bus fleet about five years overdue for replacements, Copeland heard a report at his first school board work session/meeting Tuesday night recommending all Madison County schools have one of two new start/ending times beginning as early as this fall.

Dan Evans, in charge of operations for the district, recommended the system start school at 7:30 a.m. for grades K-5 (or K-8 for schools with those grades), and 8:30 a.m. for the stand-alone middle schools and high schools. They would end at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., respectively.

Evans cited several reasons for the recommendation, including safety and saving money.

"The buses are packed full," he said. "No one is running over legal capacity (but) we are exceeding the (state) recommendation. To get back to the (state) standards, we need 18 additional buses (which) would cost $2 million. It's time to pay the fiddler (but) no one has the money."

Rather than buy new buses, Evans said by staggering the start/end times of schools, it will enable the system to use the buses to run two routes, cutting down the ride time for children from an hour or more to about 30 minutes in most cases. In addition, the state pays per route, so the system will be reimbursed about 80 percent of that cost.

Additionally, the district can use the same drivers to run the routes, thus cutting down a need to hire new drivers, who would also get benefits. It would be a substantial savings going that route, said Evans.

School Board President Kenny Johnson said the decision will be up to Copeland to move the start of school.

"We've got to do something," said Copeland. "We can't afford $2 million. We will work on this and, to play the devil's advocate, let's see what can possibly go wrong. We are in tough times everywhere and this is a viable option. We need to do this in a timely manner."

Evans said it will not cost the system anything to go to a dual start time. As gas prices rise, he sees more parents sending their kids to school on buses rather than driving the child in a personal vehicle.

Before the work session/board meeting, Copeland met scores of new people during a reception, including former superintendent Ray Swaim.

"I believe the board made a very good choice," said Swaim. "He's an experienced superintendent and educator."

Copeland said he is "impressed" with many things about the system and the area, but mostly the people he has met.

"Everyone wants what is best for the kids and that's what I want," he said.