Coweta Schools Bus Transportation restarts

From Coweta County Schools Press Release

Coweta County school buses will return for morning and afternoon student transportation as the Coweta County School System begins in-person instruction in schools.

Coweta schools begin to phase in face-to-face class instruction with special education students on September 3 and Pre-K through 1st grade students on September 4.

All students Pre-K through 12th grade who have opted to return for face-to-face instruction will return to schools September 8.  Approximately 58 percent of Coweta Schools’ students have opted for return to face-to-face instruction on September 8.

Bus routes can be found on the school system’s webpage at www.cowetaschools.net.

Go here for 2020-21 school bus route information (by school)

On the first morning of bus ridership, students should plan to be at their neighborhood pick-up spot as early as 6:45 a.m., until bus pick-up times become established.   Routes will adjust as ridership demand is established.  Routes and bus stops will remain largely the same as last year.  Parents who have questions about routes or stops should call the Transportation Department at 770-254-2820.

The school system Transportation Department also wants to make parents aware that routes could be affected if drivers are quarantined due to COVID-19.  Affected routes will be covered, but morning pick-ups could be later in such cases.  Parents can check on the status of bus routes to ensure that buses are on-time each morning on the school system’s webpage by going to www.cowetaschools.net and checking “Bus Status” on the left side of the page.

Just as in school, face masks or coverings are required of 2nd grade and above students on buses.  Siblings will be able to sit together, and buses will load from back to front as students are picked up where feasible, to spread students out as much as possible.  Parents are encouraged to provide students with their own bottle of hand sanitizer.  Buses are also cleaned and disinfected thoroughly after each route.

The school system urges Coweta parents and drivers to take extra time and care when students head back to school. Along with a return of bus service, parents dropping off young children and student drivers will also be returning. Below are a few reminders:

What can parents do?

• Adults should plan to supervise children at bus stops, particularly in the first days of pick-ups. Make sure students go to the bus stop with face masks ready and encourage students to socially distance at the bus stops, as in school.

What should drivers expect when school starts back?

• Heavier traffic than you have grown accustomed to over the last several months.  Drivers should expect longer delays at intersections, and greater traffic near school campuses and on all major thoroughfares. Drivers will not only experience more traffic, but also school buses, which will make frequent stops for riders starting at 6:45 a.m. Monday morning.

What are peak traffic times during the school year?

• Most Coweta areas should see increased school traffic begin between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. through about 9:00 a.m. on school days, as drivers and buses arrive first at elementary schools and then middle and high schools. Also, expect that traffic will be more demanding than usual during the first week or two of the school year, as everyone re-establishes a routine. In addition to heavier traffic, parents should expect longer car drop-off lines at schools.

What time do buses begin their routes?

• Buses are generally on roads by 6:30 a.m.  On the first days of the school year, as new bus routes and ridership are being established, the school system asks bus riders to be at their stops no later than 6:45 a.m. for pick-up.  Regular pick-up times for school bus stops will become established in the first weeks.

Where do children catch the bus?

• Bus pick-up sites have remained largely unchanged since last school year. Generally, if a home is on a street or cul-de-sac of 2/10th’s of a mile or less in length, students should wait for the bus on the nearest street corner. If a subdivision street or other neighborhood street is longer than 2/10ths of a mile long, bus stops are generally 1/10th of a mile apart based on ridership.

Parents should always accompany very young children to the bus stop, and meet them on their return. If parents are unsure of where the established stop is for their address, they can speak to representatives of the school system’s transportation department at 770-254-2820.

What should I watch out for?

• If you are driving during peak school arrival and dismissal times, please be mindful of students getting to and from school.  This includes being aware of students walking to and waiting at bus stops, and the need to stop and wait if you are behind a bus. Motorists must remain stopped until all students are loaded, or until all unloading students have cleared 12 feet off the roadway, and must never pass stopped buses!

What else can I do to help?

• Individuals who are not dropping children off at school can help by leaving for work earlier than usual during the first days of school to help reduce traffic during peak hours.  The school system urges all drivers – whether going to work or school – to leave earlier, and exercise patience and greater caution during the first weeks of school.  Drivers should also be aware that there will also be greater than usual traffic following dismissal (generally 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. each day).  Expect the unexpected – slow down, stay alert, and be prepared to stop quickly around school buses and in school zones.