Busing in the Duquesne City School District, which will be offered for the first time this school year, will not be available for the first two weeks of school.
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, which manages the Duquesne district, said today that bus service for students who live beyond a half-mile circumference of the Duquesne Education Center and for students who attend private or charter schools, will not start until Sept. 7. School starts in Duquesne on Aug. 23.
The AIU announced two weeks ago that the district entered into a five-year busing contract with Pennsylvania Coach Lines at a cost of $550,000 the first year, to transport 214 students who attend class within the district and 213 students who live in the district but attend private or other schools.
AIU spokeswoman Sarah McCluan said district officials need the extra time to properly educate students about bus safety procedures and proper behavior while on the bus. In addition, all parents must sign a contract with the district before their children will be permitted to ride the bus.
Parent/student bus orientations will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Aug. 31. All parents must attend one of the sessions in order for their children to ride the bus.
In the next two weeks, all parents of school-aged children will receive a postcard with information on the bus schedule, number and stop location for their children.
First Published: August 12, 2010, 5:45 p.m.