FLOYD COUNTY — With four elementary schools closing this fall and fifth-graders moving to the middle schools, administrators at New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. have new bus lines to draw as well as find ways to help students transition to their new schools.

However, finding room for another grade level on the existing sixth- through 12th-grade bus routes proved to be a difficult task.

“This year, there are six grade levels and seven grade levels on a route. That will be five and eight with the change,” Deputy Superintendent Brad Snyder said. “The two-tier routing system is already not even, but when you go to a five and eight [grade levels], you’re putting a lot more kids on the same routes that are already overcrowded.”

He said there were two main options: Add more routes or make a three-tier system, with elementary, middle and high schools separated.

Superintendent Bruce Hibbard said the decision had to do with what the people want, as well as cost.

“Having sat up on stage under the bright lights and hearing people talk and responding to e-mails and concerns, it only makes sense that some parents are concerned about the fifth-graders being on the bus with seniors, etc.,” he said as to his reasoning to go to a three-tier busing system. “We’re going to get more separation and I think our parents will see that as a positive.”

Snyder said the move will likely be cost neutral when compared to this year, saying that now there are fewer routes with more miles put on the buses, with it being vice versa next year. He said he won’t know for sure until he knows the cost of fuel and other factors.

Making this change also means setting new start times for elementary, middle and high schools, Hibbard said. He said the transportation department is still working through scenarios, and when they are done the district will be ready to announce the new start times.



MAKING THE TRANSITION

NA-FC is hoping that field trips will help students who now go to a school that will be closed next year transition to their new schools.

Hibbard said all current fourth- and fifth-grade students this year will visit the middle school they will attend next year. He said all students who attend one of the four schools that are set to close next year will also visit the school they will be going to in the fall.

“This is just to make people welcome and try to ease the anxiety of going to a new place,” Hibbard said.

He said those field trips will start this month and will continue through the beginning of May.

Hibbard hopes this also helps inform parents that their child will be changing schools.

After all the field trips are complete, open houses will be set up for families to visit the child’s new school.