HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA — As school districts across the country scramble to cover routes amidst a persistent bus driver shortage, the Habersham County Schools Transportation Department reports it has successfully maintained full staffing for all driver positions.
Officials say this stability has allowed the district to focus heavily on optimizing route safety, a critical challenge in rural areas where high-speed roadways and winding geography present unique dangers for students.
Navigating rural challenges
Rural bus routes often require complex logistics that urban districts do not face. To mitigate risks, the district states that it continually audits bus stops to ensure students are routed as efficiently and safely as possible.
According to the Transportation Department, these safety assessments incorporate a wide range of factors, including:
- Ridership numbers and route timing.
- Traffic flow patterns and tricky turn management.
- Minimizing hazardous turnarounds.
- Prioritizing door-side pickups to prevent students from crossing streets.
Ahead of the curve on “Addy’s Law”
The district’s proactive approach to routing was highlighted in 2024 by the enactment of Addy’s Law (HB 1284). The state law requires public school systems to consider routes that eliminate the need for students to cross roadways with speed limits of 40 miles per hour or greater.
While the law is a new mandate for many districts, Habersham County officials noted that they were already largely compliant before the legislation passed.
“Although Addy’s Law was enacted in 2024, the Habersham County Schools Transportation Department had already implemented procedures to provide door-side pickup and drop-off on our major highways, with only a very few exceptions,” the district stated.
Training and standards
Beyond routing logistics, the district emphasizes that its safety record relies on the drivers themselves. Habersham County bus drivers are trained in full compliance with the Georgia Department of Education’s specifications and perform their duties in strict compliance with state guidelines.
Murray Kogod, Habersham Schools Director of School Safety and Chief of Police, credited the department’s success to the professionalism of the staff.
“Our Transportation Department is second to none when it comes to keeping our bus riders safe,” Kogod said. “We are proud of the professionalism and student safety mindset that each of our drivers exemplify each and every day that school is in session.”
