GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — UPDATED: An additional statement from GCS officials about the transportation changes was released on Aug. 23.
Guilford County Schools just kicked off its school year, but many parents in the county remain concerned with their kids' transportation to and from school.
GCS announced it would expand its walking zones for the 2024-2025 school year. Bus transportation will no longer be provided for elementary, middle, and high school students who live within in a mile to a mile and a half of their school.
According to North Carolina state law, public schools do not have to automatically provide transportation to students who live within a mile and a half of school.
Some parents said they were surprised to learn about the transportation changes at open houses happening across the county this week.
"They're either going to have to walk down Spencer Dixon, which is going to be full of traffic for the school pickup and then come down Highway 150, which is 50 miles an hour," Lauren Taylor, a parent, said.
"There used to be a path through the woods to the school. But, now that goes down a very steep hill and across the gas pipeline easement, which they worked on last year. So last year they had no access to cross it. And then through this wooded area and with all that construction, it's washed out like there's no way to cross it," Taylor said.
Another parent shared an email with our news team after they tried signing their child up for bus services. The parent received an email back that said they lived too close.
GCS officials said they began telling parents about the new transportation change at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
"The walk zones have always been a thing. In some cases, if somebody made a call, it was like 'Oh well, add a stop,' so we started communicating last year where the walk zones would be and making sure people have access to that information but it's not new to have a walk zone," GCS Superintendent Whitney Oakley said.
"It's just that we've enforced those and communicated stopping last year so we can increase our operational efficiency," Oakley said.
An additional statement from GCS about upcoming updates for new school year was released on Aug. 23.
The GCS Transportation Department has processed more than 37,000 on-time requests for transportation. If students did not apply for transportation before the deadline this summer, families should know that staff are working hard to get everyone routed as soon as possible. The department has also expanded its van fleet to support students in transition.
Non-Transport zones are being implemented and expanded in several schools in accordance with state law. Impacted families have been notified and should contact their principal if they have any questions.
Questions about student safety and accessibility of alternative transportation options are now on the minds of parents across the county.
GCS said parents with concerns about the new bus transportation changes and walking zones could reach out to their designated schools for help.
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