Parents in Washoe County are going to want to double-check how their kids will be getting to school on Tuesday as changes to bus routes go into effect.
The Washoe County School District is making changes to its transportation program, and those changes officially go into effect Tuesday.
The district has reduced its walk zones, allowing 2,600 additional elementary and middle school students to ride the bus to and from school every day.
This comes after the district has been facing serious transportation challenges in the past few years.
Pre-pandemic budget cuts removed bus stops that were on the edge of walking zones, and some bus routes stopped completely while experiencing post-pandemic driver shortages.
The Intervention Department tells us that this eventually resulted in an increase in tardies and chronic absenteeism.
But now that the school district has increased bus driver pay, and the Transportation Department is now fully staffed, bus routes have changed, and more students can ride to school and home again.
Elementary walk zones have been reduced from one and a quarter miles to one mile, while middle school walk zones have been reduced from two and a quarter miles to two miles.
All students who already are taking the bus to and from school will continue to ride, however there may be some changes.
"It is critically important for our families to look up new information or connect with their school to ensure their students know where and when to catch the bus, where and when they will be dropped off, and what bus numbers to watch for," said Director of Transportation Scott Lee.Â
To see your school's new walk zone and bus schedule you can click here.
