School days in Waterloo Region will begin and end at slightly different times next year.

Monday night, Waterloo Region District School Board trustees approved changes to bell times at elementary and high schools, with the understanding no school would see more than a 20-minute difference at the end of the day.

Only 14 of the board’s schools will see a full 20-minute change, with some schools not seeing any difference from their current bell times.

In total, 73 of the WRDSB’s 118 schools will see some sort of changes to their school day.

The board says the changes are a cost-saving measure allowing them to use the same school buses for multiple schools.

Currently, more than 25 per cent of WRDSB buses can only be used for one route per day, while nearly 60 per cent are regularly used for two routes.

“On average, we’d like to use the same bus three or four times to pick up students,” board business services manager Nick Landry tells CTV News.

Board officials estimate the move will save about $1 million per year.

The school board made the decision without the outcry they received in 2011 when they proposed more sweeping changes to bell times, with elementary schools starting earlier in the day and high schools later.

“It was just felt that that was too much of a change,” says Landry.

An online survey conducted this time around saw 2,560 responses opposed to the changes and 2,442 responses in favour.

The majority of parents and employees were in favour of the change, while the majority of students and other community members were opposed.

Among parents and students surveyed Tuesday by CTV News, reaction seemed to depend on how the changes would affect the person being asked.

“It’d actually be a little better because I start work later,” said Jesse Runstedler, who has a son at Bridgeport Public School – which will see its bell times moved 20 minutes later.

At Grand River Collegiate Institute, the school day will start and end 20 minutes earlier – which didn’t sit well with students.

“It’s very tiring to get up early, especially when you have homework late at night,” said Grade 9 student Rebecca Lazar.

The estimated $1-million savings will only be realized if the Waterloo Catholic District School Board implements similar changes.

Catholic trustees are scheduled to vote on the issue next week.