Lincoln County School District Transportation Director Dr. Stacy Adcock has been busy since taking office on July 24.

     His office has had many things to take care of before the start of school, including organizing the district’s 34 busses and their routes, which traverse 1,787 miles per day and use on average $18,208 in diesel fuel per month. This year, the district’s busses are transporting up to 1,912 students per day.

     The LCSD budgeted $300,000 for diesel fuel last school year for busses, but that total came in well under budget at $218,500.

     Adcock said with Lincoln County schools’ growth this year, the number of students on the busses is up as well. That can cause some scheduling headaches, but Adcock said they are working with it.

     “More enrollment has caused issues of overcrowding on some buses,” he said. “We’ve had to do some re-routing.”

     One instance where overcrowding occurred was at Enterprise Attendance Center. There, during the first week of school, one bus was reported to have 81 kids aboard, which is far higher than the 72-78 students most buses are rated for.

     “We looked into it and determined there were too many students on board,” he said. “We knew we had to make some changes and make them quickly.”

     Adcock said they did not confirm exactly how many were on board, because that number varies every day.

     “Some kids may not ride that day for (a variety of reasons),” he said. “The number can fluctuate from day to day very easily.”

     Other route adjustments took place at West Lincoln and Loyd Star, and Adcock said additional adjustments in bus routes may take place as the year goes on.

     Adcock said the growth county schools have seen this year may spawn some growing pains, but in the end it’s a good sign.

     “My opinion on growth is that it is a good problem to have,” he said. “Growth in county schools is what I believe is an indication that people believe in Lincoln County schools and what we have to offer.”

     Before being transportation director, Adcock served as principal at Bogue Chitto Attendance Center for three years. He said his time as transportation director has taught him many things he didn’t know about the position before.

     “In this position I get to see firsthand the inner workings of the district’s transportation department,” He said. “My appreciation for it grows every day.”

     He said he especially appreciates the school bus drivers.

     “School bus driving is a tough job,” he said. “Drivers have tremendous responsibilities. I think often times they do not receive the appreciation they deserve. Until you sit behind the wheel on a bus with at least 30 children on it and drive through a narrow country road, you don’t appreciate what they do.”