Local

APS makes changes to bus pickup schedule

ATLANTA — Atlanta Public School leaders say they heard the concerns of parents over school bus pickup times many thought were too early and have made some big changes.

Channel 2's Ashley Swann spoke to Buckhead parents about the new schedule that was released over the weekend.

APS announced the new schedule via Twitter on Sunday and word is spreading quickly. Swann met with one parent who has two daughters going to Morris Brandon Elementary School this year who says their pickup time is now half an hour later than first planned. The change makes her very happy.

"Everyone in the neighborhood who rides the bus was really in an uproar," said Lisa McIlvoy.

She was one of many APS parents outraged over bus pickup times the district announced last week. The schedule had her young daughters getting on the bus at 6:30 a.m.

REVIEW: New bus pickup schedule


"The school starts at 8 a.m., so for an hour and a half pickup time when we live less than a mile from the school just seems really unreasonable," McIlvoy said.

"If you do the math, it's about a 10.5-hour day for a kindergartner and a second grader," she said.

In addition to making for an extremely long day for students, parents were also concerned about kids getting to school way before the 8 a.m. start time. Lisa says she and her neighbors had even begun considering other options.

"We thought that would just be a great solution to just come together as a neighborhood and just carpool," McIlvoy said.

An APS representative told Channel 2 Action News last week the adjustments were made so the district wouldn't have to pay for more buses. By Sunday, though, they announced via Twitter that they had heard parents' concerns and moved pick up times back.

"I actually just heard a couple hours ago," McIlvoy said.

Her daughters will now be picked up around 7 a.m. She said 30 minutes will make a big difference.

"We just really enjoy that family time in the morning. I'm really pleased to hear that they listened and made the appropriate changes," she said.

Channel 2 Action News is your official source for information as metro Atlanta students go back to school. Get overnight news, weather and Triple Team traffic every morning from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Follow updates on Twitter using the hashtag #Back2School.