Charlevoix schools announces bus pick up/drop off changes

Charlevoix Public Schools is announcing changes to bus schedules that affect all students transported to and from school on a bus and the time school starts and ends.

The district is implementing a “one bus run” starting this year, which also changes the starting and ending times for each school building. The new school bell times are:
• Elementary School: 8:08 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
• Middle School: 7:50 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• High School: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

School Transportation Supervisor Gordie Russell noted that new routes are being mapped out but will be slightly revised once school starts after new families settle into the district.

“There are always several ‘unknowns’ due to families moving into and out of the district, but we are also implementing a new bus schedule so we are asking students and parents to be patient with us as we work out this new schedule,” Russell said.

Russell noted that students living outside the city limits should start watching for their bus at 6:50 a.m. Students living in the city limits should start watching for the bus at 7:10 a.m.

All buses will arrive at the middle school by 7:40 a.m. Afterwards, high school, K-4, and St. Mary’s students will be transported from the middle school to their respective buildings.

Afternoon bus routes are set to drop off high and middle school students who live within the city limits at their respective area stops on the way to the K-4 elementary school. The drop off areas, once mapped out early in the school year, will be posted in both the middle and high school. Those high and middle school students who reside outside of the city limits will ride to the elementary school where K-4 students will be picked up, and then bused to their respective stops.

Anyone with questions can stop by the bus garage, which is temporarily located at 05968 U.S. 31 South, or contact Russell at 231.547.3236.

The new, state-of-the-art bus garage, which is being built on the same lot as the former bus garage on 1021 May Street, is expected to be completed by the end of November.