JEFFERSON — Although school started several months ago, the Jefferson City Schools System Transportation Department continually has to keep a close eye on bus routes.

"We have six buses leaving the middle school every afternoon and they are very full," Earl Griffin, system transportation director, said during Thursday’s board of education meeting.

"We will need to make route adjustments after the Christmas break. Right now we have three possible alternatives, but we are trying to avoid running double routes if at all possible."

With the exception of one bus, the system is able to accommodate around 140 students on each bus. Currently, the
transportation department runs double afternoon routes at Jefferson Elementary School and Jefferson Academy. An afternoon backup route is being run at both Jefferson Middle and Jefferson High schools, Griffin said.

During the meeting, the group also received an update about the system’s finances.

According to system financial officer Kim Navas, $500,000 of the recently approved $1 million line of credit had to be borrowed to offset current expenditures. The line of credit expires on Dec. 31, but the system should be able to repay the borrowed money before that time. A check for the system’s portion of property taxes should be received in the next few weeks and should cover the debt, Navas said.

Associate Superintendent Donna McMullan reported to the board about the results of the Georgia High School Writing test. "We had 95 percent of our students meet or exceed standards on the exam," said McMullan.

"I am pleased to report that within the special education subgroup we only had one student who did not meet the standards. I am also pleased to report that we increased the percentage of students who exceeded standards from 10 percent last year to 15 percent this year."

The board also said goodbye to member Damon Wilbanks, who sat in on his last meeting Thursday. Wilbanks’ term expired this year and he did not run for re-election. He will be replaced by his wife, Janice Wilbanks, who ran unopposed for the position.