When Gilmer County Schools were reorganized and redistricted prior to the start of the school year, it only made sense that transportation methods also received an overhaul.
Gilmer County Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs discussed how new bus routes evolved once elementary school districts were settled.
“When I looked at a map of the (old) school districts, such as ‘where is Ellijay Elementary’s district,’ I couldn’t tell anything about the map,” she said. “Ellijay Elementary and Ellijay Primary basically served the town area. Outlying districts like Mountain View Elementary kind of went out Hwy. 282. But, there was no rhyme or reason for what was what district.
“We felt like if we cleared up where the districts were, then we could have much shorter bus routes and that has been the case. Now you can look at a map of Gilmer County and know exactly where an elementary school kid goes. By doing that, we knew we could very cleanly make bus routes for those areas.”
The days of a singular bus stopping at all schools to pick up students of all ages has passed.
“In previous years, buses would go to each elementary school and CCMS first,” Downs explained. “Then they would converge on the Gilmer Middle and high school campus and students would transition at that point onto different buses.
“There were many students on buses up to 30 minutes before they even started their route home. It was a little bit chaotic.”
This year, students who attend a particular school ride a bus with classmates and similar aged children. Students districted for Clear Creek Elementary, MVES and EES do not ride with those who attend CCMS or GHS.
“Only elementary students from those particular schools are on those buses,” Downs said.
“MVES students ride with MVES students. There is no middle school students or high school students on those buses.”
The new schedule has led to more efficient bus routes and better “clear times,” which is a measure of when all students from a particular school are off buses.
A year ago, CCMS students were arriving home as late at 5:15 p.m., according to Downs. She noted this year, the clear time for EES has been around 4:25 p.m., while MVES students are getting home by 4:30 p.m. and CCES students by 4:45 p.m.
Because younger students often require supervision once they are home, students who attend CCMS and GHS are dismissed earlier to accommodate.
“We start the middle school and high school earlier in the day, so theoretically, we get those students home faster,” Downs said. “If there were older siblings, then they would be there to care for the younger siblings. That’s the structure of some of the families we serve. That’s why we redid the schedule.”
Because bus drivers are assigned to a specific school, they are able to build a rapport with teachers and administrators to head off potential disciplinary issues.
EES principal Lauree Pierce reported to Downs that bus behavior has improved. Discipline referrals have fallen from 14 at this point last year to just one in 2019.
When asked her thoughts on the new route system as schools enter their fifth week of the school year, Downs said, “I’m extremely pleased. Going into the year with the prospects of changing 52 bus routes, I was scared of what that would look like and thought we might have delays until everyone has gotten used to it, but it has worked beautifully.
“I expected to have a lot of issues with the transition, but that wasn’t the case. I attribute that to our transportation department. Our bus drivers have had a great attitude about it, and Samantha Amos, our bus supervisor, worked long, hard hours this summer to make sure the routes were efficient and clear.”
Downs said she does not foresee any immediate or additional adjustments to the new system.