By CHARLES A. MASON

The Warren County Public Schools Board of Education on Thursday approved changing starting and ending times in a majority of its schools.

The plan, after a 3-2 vote – with opposition from Vice Chairman Garry Chaffin and member Amy Duvall – will take effect in the 2015-16 school year.

The plan predominantly changes school start and end times throughout the district, with a few exceptions. A chart reflecting the old and new times for all county schools is at bgdailynews.com. Board chairman Kerry Young and members Don Basham and Kathy Evans approved the plan.

Officials say the plan will save the district $1.4 million by eliminating the need to buy new school buses, and each year an additional $600,000 will be saved by eliminating certain bus routes.

Evans said she approved the plan despite receiving 10 emails opposing it. “It is hard to turn a blind eye to that cost savings,” she said.

Generally, elementary schools will start at 8:30 a.m., and the middle and high schools at 7:30 a.m. Doors to the schools will open 30 minutes before classes begin. The biggest change is among the elementary schools that had varied start times from 15 to 50 minutes earlier than the new start time.

Young said it is impossible for someone to drop off their child at Richardsville Elementary School at 8 a.m. and arrive at work in Bowling Green at 8 a.m. Richardsville’s previous start time was 7:45 a.m.

There is room for discussion between parents and school principals to adjust drop-off times as to the needs of families.

The doors can be open 15 minutes earlier than the planned opening in the case of “families with unique circumstances,” Young said. “Any parent wishing to use this service is asked to contact the building principal.”

Amy Arnold, whose child attends kindergarten at Briarwood Elementary, asked the board to table the plan or vote no.

“My son’s childhood is being stripped away,” she said, noting he currently arrives home at 4 p.m. and the change would push that arrival back to 4:20 to 4:30 p.m., cutting the time he can play after school.

Warren Central High School administrator Chris Stunson read letters from children at the Housing Authority of Bowling Green, who noted the learning center at the housing authority is helping them with their studies and homework.

Young had announced a 3-minute time limit for each person’s comments and stopped Stunson before he could read the comments from 16 children – some of who had drawn pictures to accompany their short sentiments.

Board member Don Basham said he didn’t receive a single telephone call “in a negative way” about the changes.

Duvall said she received several objections to the plan.

“Everyone cares about Warren County schools,” Duvall said, thanking the three people who addressed the board on the bus times issue.

“Now we can move forward,” she said.