School transportation plans aim to ease traffic chaos

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant changes to school transportation and traffic management in the area. Plans are underway to adjust parent drop-off and pick-up locations, moving the process to Hefner Street and utilizing a designated bus cutout on Liberty. This change aims to alleviate congestion at intersections and enhance pedestrian safety, particularly for students crossing the street.

The meeting highlighted ongoing construction projects, including the completion of a gas line project and subsequent road repaving efforts on Pennsylvania Avenue. These improvements are expected to be completed in phases, with the first phase anticipated to finish before the local fair, while the second phase is scheduled for late fall.

Transportation officials reported that the district logged over 586,000 miles last year across various routes, field trips, and extracurricular activities. For the upcoming school year, 49 bus routes will be operational, including new routes for special education and preschool students, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic enrollment levels.

However, challenges remain as the district currently has one unassigned bus route and no substitutes available, which may lead to delays in the initial weeks of school. Efforts are being made to recruit additional staff, with some retirees expressing interest in returning. Recruitment initiatives will expand to include classified staff to address staffing shortages as the school year begins.