Tulsa Public Schools finalizing school bus routes

In less than two weeks – students will head back to class at Tulsa Public Schools.
Right now, the district is working to finalize all of the bus routes.
With nearly 40,000 students, it’s not an easy task to map out all the different bus stops.

Rhonda Hinrichs is a busy mother of two children. Because they go to different schools, she relies heavily on the bus to get them there.

"It's always kind of stressful trying to figure out how you're going to get kids to certain locations, and waiting to find out where we're going to have pickups,” she says.

You can check the temporary routes on its website, www.tulsaschools.org. Just click on the Parents tab and scroll down to Bus routes and Schedules. You can also type in your school name in the search bar. A few modifications still need to be made.

"All routes should be finalized by the next week or so,” says TPS transportation director, Rosalyn Vann-Jackson.

Until her child’s routes are set in stone, Rhonda keeps checking on her cell phone for any updates.

"Drop offs are also an issue. We have to know where the kids are going to be dropped off so we can pick them up,” says Hinrichs.

Another concern this mother has is the intense heat.
Because it can get so hot on the bus, Tulsa Public Schools will offer children bottled water as they leave for the day just to help them stay cool.

And it’s not just the parents who are anxiously awaiting the final bus routes.

"The kids really need that stability to know okay this is the bus I'm going to take, and this is where mom and dad are going to pick me up,” says Hinrichs.

The district says it’s currently reviewing all of the bus stops for construction and changes just to make sure the stop is the safest place for your child.

TPS still needs to hire about 20 more bus drivers before the start of the school year on August 20th. If you would like to apply – you can go to their website, www.tulsaschools.org or call the Transportation Department at 918-833-8100.