FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville students and teachers returned to class on Tuesday, Aug. 20, with a few new implementations.
Director of Communications Alan Wilbourn said one of the most significant changes this year is happening on the school bus.
Wilbourn said the district has been working all summer to rework the transportation system.
“The biggest thing [that’s new this year] would be the overhaul of our transportation routes and the study that we've just concluded over the summer that we think will be a much more efficient way for our routes to run,” Wilbourn said. “As of today, we’re fully covered with drivers, so we don't anticipate things we had to do last year.”
Last year, FPS had to double up bus routes due to a bus driver shortage.
This year, Wilbourn said the district is in good shape and is only looking for substitute drivers.
The district is also implementing a new electronic system that will allow students to scan their badges as they get on and off the school bus.
“It shows the driver not only where the route's supposed to go so that anyone can drive that route, but it also tells the driver who to expect at this next stop,” Wilbourn said. “The kids will badge on and badge off, and it's all safety because, in the event of an emergency, we need to know who's on that bus, exactly who it is by name and all those things.”
Safety is a focus for Fayetteville this year. The district is also introducing a new system where all students and staff will be required to wear a lanyard with a nametag to identify themselves in school buildings.
“Again, it's a safety issue,” Wilbourn said. “We want to know who's in the building so we can identify by the colors, ‘yes, that's a student badge, that's a staff badge. Okay, this person is in the hall and has neither, can we help you?’”
Wilbourn said starting in January, students in secondary schools will see changes to the district's phone policy. During the fall semester, students will be allowed to have their phones during passing periods and at lunch.
"Starting January 1, it will be no cell phones at all," Wilbourn said. "They'll be put away, and that includes smartwatches. Basically, it's trying to minimize distractions in the classroom."
This comes as schools across the state are accepting the invitation from Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva to participate in a phone-free pilot program during the school year.
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