Tuesday, Aug. 22, is the first day of school!
We're excited to welcome more than 500 9th grade students to the Ninth Grade Center for the 2023-2024 school year.
Please revisit some important transportation information below regarding car riders and bus transportation.
Car rider drop off/pickup
If you are driving your student to school, please review the car rider drop off/pickup procedures:
Please be patient during traffic back-ups. The traffic patterns generally improve a few weeks into the school year.
Bus routes
Bus routes for 2023-2024 are posted on the District website.
Please be aware that buses may be running late the first week or two - please be patient as students and drivers learn the routes.
The Ray-Pec School District provides bus service to every student in our community. This commitment requires large-scale logistical planning in a regular school year. This year, there is a bus driver shortage across the country, including in Ray-Pec.
As a result, some buses will be fuller than usual, and some routes will be longer than in the past, most notably in the southern portion of the district.
Buses for students in grades 6-12 who live in the South Middle School attendance boundary will ride buses to the main campus. Students in grades 10-12 will be dropped at the high school. Students in grades 6-9 will be dropped at South Middle School. Ninth graders will board shuttle buses for the remainder of the trip to the Ninth Grade Center.
In the afternoon, the process is reversed. Students at the Ninth Grade Center will board shuttles to the South Middle School before boarding their bus for the ride home. Afternoon buses at South Middle School and the High School are scheduled to leave the main campus at about 3:10 p.m. to begin the afternoon route.
We are working with First Student Bus Company to explore options to ease the impact of the driver shortage. First Student is using a variety of methods to recruit additional drivers to serve the district. The recruitment methods include sign-on bonuses and a billboard.
If you have any specific concerns or questions about your child’s bus transportation, please contact First Student at 816-318-1900 or transportation@raypec.org. First Student, our transportation provider, will address individual concerns and provide assistance where needed.
We understand that there may be some inconvenience to start the year. Please know that we share your concerns and are committed to providing the best possible solutions under the current circumstances. Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.