Changes are in the making for school openings and closings and bus transportation for Hartselle students, effective with the start of a new school year on Aug. 20.

The school day at Hartselle’s elementary schools will begin at 7:45 a.m. and close at 2:45 p.m. while Hartselle Junior High School will be open at 7:55 a.m. and will close at 2:55. Hartselle High School will observe an 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. school day.

To facilitate the time change, school buses will run double routes mornings and afternoons. This means children of elementary and junior high and high school ages in the same family would board the bus at a different time.

“We realize that the changes will cause some inconvenience on the part of some parents,” said Transportation director William Booth. “But we had to come up with a plan to deal with the increased traffic that will come with the opening of the new high school next year.”

“This will be handled as a trial run for the first few days of school,” he added. “The object is to have a workable plan in place before the new school opens.”