STARKVILLE – To help parents avoid the construction-related traffic on Highway 182, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has launched a morning shuttle for Henderson Ward Stewart carpoolers.
The temporary shuttle will leave from Bridgeway Church on North Jackson Street each day at 7:30 a.m. as the city continues construction to revitalize a one-mile stretch of the highway, which includes Henderson Ward Stewart.
District Communications Director Haley Montgomery said about 55 students took advantage of the shuttle during its first run on Monday.
“We got some good feedback from parents who were coming through the line that it shortened their trip (Monday), and (for) some of them, allowed them to get to work on time,” Montgomery told The Dispatch. “A lot of the kids seemed pretty excited to ride the bus because they are normally car riders, … so they thought that was a super cool thing.”
The temporary shuttle is specifically for Henderson Ward Stewart who typically carpool. Two buses will be at the Bridgeway parking lot each morning from 6:50 to 7:30 a.m. to carry the students to school. The shuttle will not be available after 7:30 a.m. or for afternoon carpool.
Buses will be parked in the gray gravel lot behind the church. Parents should enter the parking lot from North Jackson Street, to the north of the main sanctuary, and pull up to the right side of the first available bus. Students are asked to wait until their vehicle is adjacent to the bus door before exiting from the driver’s side to board.
Cars should exit the parking lot onto Shepard Street. District staff will be on hand each morning to ensure the process goes smoothly.
“It is only available for … Henderson Ward Stewart carpool students, so if students are normally bus riders, we’re asking them to continue to do that,” Montgomery said. “But if these are families that normally use carpool for arrival in the morning, then yes, that’s available to them.”
Montgomery said the district was grateful Bridgeway Church agreed to provide the parking lot. With the church located a nice distance away from the construction, she said the location provides an opportunity to help parents out while avoiding creating anymore congestion on Jackson Street.
“We’re always ready to help out our local schools any way we can,” Bridgeway co-pastor Joe Horan told The Dispatch on Monday.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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