School bus signups began today and Varnett’s transportation coordinator described the turnout so far as phenomenal.
Signups will continue tomorrow, August 20 and Wednesday, August 21 and Thursday, August 22 at Southwest, East and Northeast campuses from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. But Kerry Shelton, the transportation coordinator, said each campus has a limit to the number of students who will receive bus transportation: 420 at Southwest, 250 at Northeast and 150 at East. Each bus can accommodate about 70 students.
Shelton said the district will have 12 routes when school starts Aug. 26 and will be able to transport about 800 students. The signups are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enrollment is mandatory even if children rode the bus last school year.
Students are expected to be at their respective bus stops at least 10 minutes before pickup in the morning . The buses start rolling at about 6 a.m.each weekday to pick up students in time for their 8 a.m. classes.
Parents or guardians of PreK through 2nd grade students must be present when the bus drops off students in the afternoon. If they are not present, the students will be returned to campus until a parent or guardians picks them up.