Durham Public Schools Extends Rotational Bus Plan into January

Durham Public Schools on Friday extended the rotational bus coverage plan that originally would've ended on Dec. 20 until Jan. 17.

The rotating bus schedule gives parents along certain bus routes one day a week where they must provide transportation for their children so the district can make more efficient use of its understaffed bus driver corps.

The school district "continues to work diligently to find viable solutions to the bus driver shortage and the challenges it presents," according to a news release. "As we do this, we have found it necessary to extend rotational bus service through Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 .... Extending rotational bus service will allow the district to maintain consistent transportation for students and provide time to implement any Board-approved actions."

The Board of Education is set to discuss transportation options at a Dec. 19 meeting, officials said, and "the options under consideration could have implications for bus assignments, routes, and bus schedules for students across the district."

Among the options up for consideration:

• Implementing "family responsibility zones" of about 1.5 miles around some elementary schools, which would require families to find other ways for their kids to get to school, whether on foot, on a bicycle, or by car.
• Adding express hubs for secondary schools like Durham School of the Arts.