DPS reports steady routes and new drivers after Family Responsibility Zones launch; parents press board on express bus stops and crossing-guard gaps

Durham Public Schools reported progress on Feb. 6 in addressing a seasonal shortage of bus drivers and implementing Family Responsibility Zones (FRZs) that moved some students off district-provided bus service.

Transportation staff said FRZs have been in effect for 10 days and that routes have been covered each day since the change. The district has modified routes and added riders to existing runs as needed, and staff described an active outreach program of school visits and communications to help families adapt. Transportation leaders credited an internal staffing surge: 15 new drivers have joined since Jan. 3 (nine were current DPS employees who obtained required commercial licenses; six were new to the district). Several new drivers are training with veteran drivers; a few have been assigned permanent routes.

Miss Brookshire, transportation staff, told the board that school administrators have not reported a surge in students walking and that car-rider lines have not created safety concerns in the schools the district has visited; instead, families are often carpooling. She said transportation staff are conducting site visits at schools with higher numbers of affected students and working with principals to resolve localized issues. The district said it has received zero formal appeals since FRZ implementation.

Board members and staff repeatedly raised crossing guards and basic pedestrian infrastructure as outstanding needs. Transportation staff and planners told the board the city currently administers the crossing-guard program and that the most recent public list of crossing-guard locations dates to 2014; the city told the district this year it is re-posting its crossing-guard job listing to rebuild an applicant pool. Board members asked staff to pursue coordinated options with city and county leaders: improved pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks, crosswalks, bus shelters) and a process for prioritizing additional crossing-guard assignments.

The board also heard public comment about a separate transportation topic: express bus stops. Parent Chad Heffeli told the board he and other families are concerned the district’s approved plan to use express stops in 2025–26 remains unspecified in ways that affect magnet choices and equity. "If you can't answer these basic logistical questions by now, you shouldn't use the system at all," Heffeli said. He asked the board to explain where express stops will be located, operating times, parent expectations for pick-up and drop-off, and accommodations for working families.

Transportation staff said routing and operational changes (including express-stop planning) remain under development; staff also reminded the board of a scheduled bike-and-roll-to-school event May 7 and ongoing Safe Routes to School coordination. The district asked the board for continued patience as staff continue to recruit drivers, refine routing, and coordinate with city partners on crossing guards and infrastructure.

No formal board action was taken at the work session on FRZs, express stops or crossing guards; administrators said they will continue outreach, provide updated maps and keep the board informed at future meetings.