Schools

School Bus Practice Runs Begin July 30

GCPS bus drivers will run their assigned routes in preparation for the August 6 school start date.

Gwinnett County school buses will start rolling again in just a few days.

Beginning July 30, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) buses will be on the road as drivers prepare for the Aug. 6 start of school.

According to a GCPS press release, drivers will run their assigned routes during actual drive times from Tuesday, July 31, through Friday, Aug. 3 with limited practice runs on Thursday. The routes will be run both mornings and afternoons.

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During the first few days of school, GCPS officials advise parents to have their children at the bus stop approximately 15 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. However, due to the necessity of reviewing bus safety procedures with riders, buses may run behind schedule the first few days, especially during the afternoon routes.

GCPS offers the following bus transportation tips for parents as they prepare for the start of the new school year:

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  • Visit your child’s bus stop prior to the first day of school to help your child become familiar with the location. Bus stop information is available at your child’s school.
  • Parents should ensure children are familiar with the area near the bus stop. Parents should point out landmarks near the bus stop so that children recognize their stop.
  • Parents should remind children not to get off the bus if they are not certain if a stop is theirs. The bus driver will take the child back to school and contact the parents.
  • Parents are encouraged to set a routine and stick with it in order to help the student and driver become familiar with each other and the route.
  • GCPS officials encourage parents to coordinate with other parents in order to ensure an adult is present in the mornings and afternoons at the bus stop. The presence of a familiar adult at the stop is also helpful in helping younger children recognize the correct stop.
  • In the event your child does not get off his or her bus at the scheduled stop, call the school. If unable to reach the school, call the GCPS transportation department at 770-338-4800.
  • For questions regarding special education transportation services, call 770-513-6881.
  • Students will be picked up and dropped off at the bus stop serving their home address unless alternative arrangements have been made and the appropriate forms completed. For questions about these forms, parents or guardians should call 678-226-7036.

The GCPS transportation department transports more than 122,500 students twice daily and is the second largest transporter of school children in the country. The school system operates 1,834 buses and runs 7,534 routes with 47,267 stops covering 130,800 miles each day -- the equivalent of more than 30 round trips to Los Angeles daily -- and more than 23.5 million miles each year.


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