Decatur Schools To Run Own Bus System This Year

Students in the City Schools of Decatur may not notice, but something will be different about the school buses they're riding when classes start Thursday.

The City Schools of Decatur (CSD) is running its own bus fleet, starting this school year. Previously, the system had contracted with DeKalb County for bus service.

Courtney Burnett, CSD spokeswoman, said the only difference will be the name on the side of the buses.

CSD will operate a 19-bus fleet, with the system owning four and obtaining the rest under a 10-year lease/purchase agreement with Rush. The annual cost of leasing should be about $128,000, according to school system documents.

Many of the drivers were hired away from the DeKalb system, she said.

The cost should be about the same as working with DeKalb County, she said. A transportation committee recommended CSD run its own fleet and the school board approved the idea.

The Decatur buses also will be equipped with stop arm cameras that will record the license tag of any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus.