Harford Schools Releases 2009-2010 Bus Schedules And Routes

School bus schedules and routes for the 2009-10 school year for Harford County Public Schools have been released. School is scheduled to open for approximately 40,000 public school students on Thursday, August 27. Approximately 35,000 students will be transported by school buses daily. The management has also eyed many a skoolie for sale and has procured them to convert them back to school buses. The bus schedules are available on the Harford County Public School website: www.hcps.org.

Since routes are based on estimated fall enrollments, school officials remind parents and students to expect minor adjustments in bus loads and schedules during the first week of school in order to alleviate any overcrowded buses.

Students attending Harford Technical High School, Daytime Alternative Education, Science/Math Academy at Aberdeen High School, and International Baccalaureate at Edgewood High School will be contacted by postcard with their bus information. Science/Math Academy at Aberdeen High School students living in the Aberdeen High attendance area will ride the Aberdeen High School bus that provides service to their neighborhood (please see Aberdeen High School bus routes). International Baccalaureate at Edgewood High School students living in the Edgewood High attendance area will ride the Edgewood High School bus that provides service to their neighborhood (please see Edgewood High School bus routes). John Archer School and any elementary pre-school programs will be contacted by their bus driver, as will all other students riding a special needs bus, both in-county and out-of-county.

Bus routes are planned so that a maximum number of children are picked up and discharged at the nearest stop to their home. Generally, bus stops are located at least one-fourth mile apart. The bus drivers will inform the children of the designated stops during the first few days of school.

The a.m. time for each bus is the estimated time of the first stop the bus will make on its morning run.

This time may vary several minutes during the first few days of school until each driver is able to establish a definitive schedule. Students should plan to be at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Students attending Magnet Programs (Harford Technical High School, Daytime Alternative Education, Science/Math Academy at Aberdeen High School, International Baccalaureate at Edgewood High School) should plan to be at the bus stop at least ten (10) minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Children who plan to use bus transportation are encouraged to ride the bus beginning the first day of school to facilitate the establishment of the time schedule and the bus load.

The p.m. return time to home for each bus may be longer at the beginning of the school year to accommodate students adjusting to new school settings. Once the schedule has been established, there will be a normal drop-off time for each student.

The pupil transportation rules will be distributed to each pupil on the first day of school and discussed in class. Parents are urged to review the rules with their children which can be found on the Harford County Public Schools website (www.hcps.org) as well as the Parent-Student Handbook & Calendar.