Temperatures are always soaring when it is time for students to return to class, but this year the school bus ride to and from school will be more comfortable for students and bus drivers alike.

A total of 154 school buses have been retrofitted with air-conditioning units to combat the hot days of August and September. The total budgeted cost of $1,200,000 to place the air-conditioning units on the buses was funded by revenue generated from the Education Special Local Option Sales Tax II.  New school buses that are purchased in the future will come standard with air-conditioning. Previously, only special education school buses were air-conditioned.

Parents are reminded that they must register for school bus service in order for their students to ride a bus to and from school. Parents can register by going to www.fcboe.org/businfo and clicking on the “Bus Registration Form” link on the left-hand side of the page.

Starting this year, parents will be able to have immediate online access to their child’s school bus number, school bus stop location, and pick up and drop off times through e-Link. Parents can access the link at www.fcboe.org/elink beginning August 2. Parents can only view the information after they have registered for bus service. If no information appears, register for bus service, and then access the link again.