BUS ROUTES: Nearly half of Pike County students ride buses

The Pike County Journal-Reporter

RSS Feed

Email Alerts

BUS ROUTES: Nearly half of Pike County students ride buses

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in News

Tuesday, July 28. 2009

Comments (21)

About half of Pike County's 3,558 students are expected to ride a school bus this year, according to Jeff Tharpe, transportation coordinator.

Click here for high school and middle school bus routes

Click here for primary and elementary school bus routes

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 The other 1/2 on 07/28/09 at 10:22 AM

They ride in SUV's that tie up traffic on 19 twice a day. Next there will be special SUV lanes and the SUV kids will get out early and come to school later. Listen to the poor children tell the SUV kids, My yellow bus is bigger than your SUV.

#2 sherry hollis on 07/28/09 at 10:24 AM

Last year on Plantation Road, 2 school buses came about 30 minutes apart. Our road is a very short dead end road. I don't understand why 2 separate busses had to be used on the same road at about the same time.
Looking into this could cut out some much needed money for gas.

#3 confused adult on 07/29/09 at 06:40 AM

If I am reading this correctly, we have children being picked up at 5:30 am? This is ridiculous!!School doesn't start until 8:00 AM, how are our children suppose to do well in school if they have to get up at 5:00 AM and school doesn't start until 8:00am. I work in Stockbridge Ga with a start time of 7:00 am and don't get up until 5:30 am. This schedule needs to be addressed. Do we need more buses? More drivers?

#3.1 Concerned Mother on 07/29/09 at 09:21 AM

I agree totally!!!!!!!!!! I have two children in the PCPS and with them cathching the bus at 6:30 they are give out when they get home.

#3.1.1 sherry hollis on 07/29/09 at 09:30 AM

I have asked the GA dept of education about the bus time limits and they said there are no legal policies on limits. They told me that some kids in ATL ride 2 or 3 hrs a day.
Which I just can't believe that.
With my experiences with Pike Co. schools and the state, you can't take their word for it. So I looked for myself and couldn't find any legal policy on bus limits.
My grandson lived in Griffin and went to the Macon blind school. They had him going over 2 hrs one way. We found out they were doing this illegally and called them on it. They put it down to 1 hr each way. This is extreme also, but hey, Macon is an hour away anyway.

#4 sherry hollis on 07/29/09 at 09:35 AM

I looked at the bus schedules. For my road, they pick up elementary kids at 7:35 and the high school kids at 6:45. WHAT??
Who makes up this schedule??
No wonder they come at 2 different times every day. They use to pick them up all at the same time. I wonder if this schedule is better. I wouldn't think so.

#5 Tired of this on 07/29/09 at 10:05 AM

Basically if this were a "Perfect" World than every child could get on the bus at 7:30 am and be to school by 8...But You can't do that....IT depends on where you live and other factors, but some of the routes have to start early to be able to get every student there on time....If you have a problem with it...Drive them to school yourself....Man some people just get on here to fuss about anything and every thing if you read this you will notice that you see the same names over and over again....If you hate Pike co some much move....I here there are some good deals in Clayton...See how long you would like that...

#6 Informed on 07/29/09 at 01:01 PM

Since I had questions I asked and got answers instead of griping....For example the 5:30am pick up time was a typo and I was told it will be corrected by Open House.....Mistakes do happen.... Everyone is not PERFECT like you that comment on this site....Also years ago when the system ran a single route instead of the dual routes they do know...People like you called and complained about your babies having to ride with Middle/High school students...So they changed it a couple of years ago to the dual route system..... The PS/ES buses and MS/HS buses have totally different routes so they could very well end up on the same road but a different times....Just give the school a chance to get everything worked out the first week or two of school.....If you don't like it then you can drive your child to school....

#7 FYI on 07/29/09 at 04:34 PM

Just saw Pike County Schools website - Corrected / Revised Bus Routes are now available. www.pike.k12.ga.us

#8 Pre-K Mommy on 07/29/09 at 08:18 PM

Well, I drive a big SUV and will be taking my 4 yr old to school and picking him up everyday. My tax dollars paid for the "poor kids" bus fare long before I had a kid in Pike Co. schools. In pirate tradition, those who don't like it can go "walk the plank"!

#8.1 I love it on 07/29/09 at 08:29 PM

You tell it Pre-k mommy!...I am also a SUV mommy that will be taking my kids to school and I agree with you 100%.

#8.2 KI on 07/30/09 at 06:50 AM

maybe YOUR tax dollars arent paying for just the "poor kids" to ride the bus... I wish I could drop off and pick up my child everyday BUT some folks work for a living.

#8.2.1 Pre-K Mommy on 07/30/09 at 08:48 AM

The "poor kids" reference was made in response to "the other 1/2"s remark at the beginning and just because someone drives an SUV doesn't make them RICH and just b/c someone is a stay at home mom who has a working husband...doesn't mean I don't WORK for a living.......I'm one of the most underpaid people in America!

#8.2.1.1 I did it too on 07/30/09 at 09:35 AM

You will never regret the choice you are making to be a stay at home Mom, I promise you. You may wonder sometimes but in the end you will be glad you did it.

#9 sherry hollis on 07/29/09 at 11:27 PM

'people like you'? Are you talking about me? I have NEVER called and complained about the bus route here. My child was in school before this change and we have been homeschooling the past 3 years.

#9.1 informed.... on 07/30/09 at 09:28 AM

Oh my bad you didn't call and complain about the bus route, I just meant People like you that love to get on this site and fuss/complain about everything even things that don't concern you like the schools..
(Since you homeschool)..EVERY article written about the school you have some negative comment...

#10 Mom of 2 boys on 08/01/09 at 08:27 AM

I moved from Gwinnett County several years ago. When we moved here, PC had 1 bus route for everyone - 4 yr to 12th grade. That was crazy. Gwinnett is a HUGE County and has a wonderful and awesome bus system. I mean, they have too for all those kids. Why didn't Pike look to bigger counties when going to 2 bus routes? We currently have 2 buses come down the same road 5 min apart. Most of the time, 1 bus has to pull into my driveway to let the other bus pass. Which only tears up my wonderful dirt driveway. However, Gwinnett County has staggered times for when the school starts and the older kids get out BEFORE the younger kids. Most parents need the older kids to watch the younger ones in the afternoon b/c most parents do work. Gwinnett County has ALL the busses run 3 seperate routes every morning and every afternoon. The HS kids start at 730 to 210. MS starts at 815 to 3 and PS/ES start at 9 to 345. All the buses are less crowded b/c they all run the county road picking up the same age kids each time they run a route. Then they go to the next route. I did try to voice my opinion when the decision was made to go to 2 bus routes, but no one in the BOE wanted to hear about it. They need a better system. It would also cause less traffic jams in the morning and afternoon. B/C buses and parents are not all gathering at the school at one time and students are driving like crazy to get out in the afternoon. Does anyone agree with me?

#10.1 Pike Resident on 08/06/09 at 03:19 PM

Yes, I agree with you. The bus routes are the same way in Rockdale County as well. Let the older kids get out of school earlier so they will be home when the younger kids get home. Makes sense.

#11 goodness gracious! on 08/01/09 at 10:39 AM

geez peeps~soooo mean ya'll are!

#12 Move on 08/08/09 at 11:19 AM

Well if you like Gwinnett and Rockdale so much MOVE back....Everyone moves her because they see what AWESOME schools we have, but yet when they get here they want to change everything....Believe me they work everyday trying to make it the best situation for everyone....But some of us don't want our HS/MS to have to start school at 7am just so they can get home earlier....Gwinnett County I am sure had alot more FUNDING than we do....Just think about it...I am sure there are alot of parents like myself that wouldn't want my PreK or Kindergarten to have to stay at school until 3:45....So what about the parents that both work...The HS/MS students would leave first in the morning who would be there to watch the PS/ES student then...Some parents have to leave for work early....Man see you just can't please everyone can you????

#13 Oh My on 08/08/09 at 11:51 AM

I have never posted a thought here. But, I feel the need to encourage all of you to please find something positive to say about all that is done at the schools. People work very hard each day to make sure that children are transported, taught, fed, and loved during a school day. Please help make change happen by praying for those that have to make these decisions. Pray for them to see clearly and have discernment in all areas where our babies are concerned. Prayer is powerful.

Only registered users may comment on stories. Please login or register to post comments. Your browser must support cookies.

The author does not allow comments to this entry