Bulloch County Schools activates alternate bus stop plan due to rain

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) -Bulloch County Schools has activated its alternate bus stop plan for certain bus routes due to recent and forecasted rain.

The plan will be in effect for morning and afternoon bus routes beginning Monday, October 5, until further notice.

Bus drivers are calling affected families, and the district is communicating the plan to the public, according to the district.

Why the plan is activated

Bulloch County has approximately 720 miles of dirt roads, according to the district. The roads are maintained by the county public works department, but rain and large vehicles, including school buses, can create safety hazards and structural damage to them.

The district said the plan is for the safety of bus drivers and students, and it helps protect the dirt roadways, which can be damaged by large vehicles when they are wet.

What families should know

The district said the following when the plan is activated:

• Activation of the alternate bus stop plan does not mean the dirt roads have been closed by public works. Families should adhere to any temporary road hazard or road closure signs that are erected.
• Dirt roads can be accessible when wet by smaller vehicles or trucks, but wet, muddy roads are more hazardous for heavy buses, and the buses’ weight may also damage dirt roads when they are saturated.
• Activation of the alternate bus stop plan does not mean school is closed.
• Families who live on affected roads and have a child who rides the bus will need to either bring their child to the alternate bus stop or bring their child to school.
• Absences are excused at the discretion of the school’s principal.

Affected roads can be found here.