ATTLEBORO - The school department has had second thoughts about standardizing school starting times after learning of complications involving school bus transportation.

School department business manager Marc Furtado said Monday that start times will remain staggered this fall because of a number of hurdles involving school buses.

Having elementary and middle schools begin class at the same time would have required additional special needs buses and a reduction in service to parochial schools and to fee-based transportation customers.

Furtado said he is continuing to meet with school transportation officials in an attempt to iron out problems in providing uniform starting times.