Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) outlined changes last week to better streamline school bus transportation ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 school year. These updates come after the many problems with bus transportation that marred the first day of the 2023-24 school year. An ensuing audit of the PGCPS transportation system identified specific issues that are now being addressed.
In an effort to “ensure the safe, efficient and punctual transportation” of students, PGCPS introduced a new bell schedule for every school in the system. Greenbelt Elementary will shift to an 8:30 a.m. arrival and a 2:40 p.m., dismissal. Greenbelt Middle School will begin at 9:30 a.m. and dismiss at 4:10 p.m. while Eleanor Roosevelt High School students will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m.
Along with updated bell times for all PGCPS schools, some bus stop locations will be moved in an effort to consolidate stops. Prior to this upcoming school year, 76 percent of students who are eligible for transportation – 65,000 – had a bus stop located 0.24 mile or less away from their home residence. The new plan increases the average distance for students to walk to their bus stop to 0.46 mile. New walking zones in which students are not considered to need bus transportation have been designated for this school year. Students in these zones who live close to their designated school and have a safe pedestrian route will not receive bus transportation to and from school. The PGCPS is working with county agencies, including crossing guard units, the Department of Public Works & Transportation, and school resource officers, to ensure that these walk zones will be safe for students. According to Transportation Director Keba Baldwin, the school system and these agencies will meet once a month to review the new procedures.
Families also have the option to opt out of receiving bus transportation, such as for students who will receive daily rides to and from school or are student drivers. The school system received around 3,000 opt-out requests in a survey sent to parents, said Baldwin.
Those who utilize bus transportation during the school year can download the Stopfinder App. The app is described as offering GPS tracking of buses, notifications when a bus picks up and drops off students and notifications when buses are running late.
These updates to transportation are part of the school system’s “Phase 1” that will be completed during the current school year, with more improvements during “Phase 2” to come during the 2025-26 school year.
Matthew Neus is a student in the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism and a summer intern at the News Review.