Spring is pretty much here. It is during this time of year that we often see heavy rains and storms that impact our ability to make it down all of the roads necessary to complete our bus routes. As a reminder, our buses will not cross water over the road. We prioritize safety and there are too many variables when it comes to low water crossings. If the rain and storms occur during the day, Mr. Prugh will generally go check the low water crossings on the routes and relay their condition to the bus drivers in order to make a plan for the afternoon that we can communicate to families in a timely manner.
The morning routes are different. If a storm or rain occurs overnight, the drivers use indicators such as running water in ditches or fields to make a determination of whether or not they believe water may be over the road at their low water crossings. It is a bit of a guessing game for them in the mornings and they are always going to err on the side of caution. To turn a 30 foot vehicle around on a gravel road is not an easy task and often times requires the assistance of law enforcement to help control traffic. In many places the bus would have to back up a large distance before there is a location large enough to turn the bus around. This is obviously not an ideal scenario for our drivers and the students who may be on the bus. To avoid this scenario our bus routes have alternative pick up locations for families who live past a low water crossing and they will send you a message in the morning after a heavy rain of whether or not they will be using the alternate pick up location. Will we sometimes get it wrong and use the alternate location when water isn't over the road? Probably. Just know that when they make that call it isn't because they are trying to shorten their route or be an inconvenience. It is because they have the safety of their riders and your children as their top priority.
As always, Go Mustangs!