HCPSSRestored Bus Routes and Other Transportation Updates, Sept. 14, 2023
September 14th, 2023
The following is adapted from a message sent by HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano to HCPSS families on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023:
Yesterday, I shared a message with you detailing the shift in start times beginning Wednesday, Sept. 20 to address the significant bus delays that have impacted our school system. Based on our review of bus arrival data since the beginning of the school year and the modeling completed by the team, I am optimistic that these adjustments and further fine-tuning of our specialized routes will get our students to school on-time, and eliminate the significant delays many of you have experienced.
As promised, I will be providing daily updates as we implement these start time adjustments. Today, we added Frequently Asked Questions to the website based on questions I have received regarding the shift in times. Several of those can be found at the end of this message.
I am pleased to report that the final three buses that were suspended will be restored beginning Monday, Sept. 18. Using all our bus contractors, all our more than 500 routes will run on Monday. Please note that the HCPSS online bus locator is currently offline as staff work to adjust the times and routes in preparation for the Sept. 20 implementation of adjusted start times. While the locator is offline, routes and pickup/drop-off times can be found on the HCPSS website. Families served by the following restored routes will receive additional information via email.
| Old Bus No. | New Bus No. | Schools Served | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1070 | 202 | Hammond HS, Hammond MS, Guilford ES | |
| 1144 | 1144 | Atholton HS, Swansfield ES, Atholton ES | |
| 1165 | 853 | Atholton HS, Wilde Lake MS |
Note: 1144 was previously scheduled for Atholton HS, Swansfield ES and Waterloo ES. Waterloo Bus 1144 is now Bus 1201.
Thank you to all our families and staff for your continued collaboration as we address our transportation challenges. As I have shared before, it is unacceptable that we encountered these challenges, but it is absolutely critical that we address them as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to FAQs on start times can be found online, including:
- Why is HCPSS changing start times again?
- Does the Superintendent have the authority to make school start time changes?
- Why are the school start time changes being implemented on Wednesday instead of at the start of the week?
- Is a change of up to 10 minutes sufficient to solve the delayed buses?
- How can I find my new bus pickup and drop-off time?
- My child’s school has not had many transportation concerns. Why is our start time changing?