In-Town School Bus Seeing Good Interest

Wolf Point’s new in-town bus route has been very successful since its start at the beginning of the 2026 year.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins, who also serves as the driver of the bus, says the amount of passengers averages in the 50s daily.

“I’ve heard good things. The people appreciate it,” Perkins said. “It’s something that was needed a long time ago.”

He said the highest amount of passengers has been 59 students.

“We can have a full bus in the morning, but it can be fuller in the afternoon,” Perkins said.

He said usually about 15 of the passengers are secondary students while the rest are elementary students.

There are 11 stops made during both the morning and afternoon, starting at 7:09 a.m. and 4:25 p.m.

“I’m almost to the minute on picking up people,” Perkins said.

With the popularity of the transportation, Perkins added that it’s possible that the school district might add one or two steps next school year.

Benefits for the school district include a reduction of students being absent or arriving late for classes. It also helps home school coordinators have a less hectic schedule.

Another reason that the school district added the bus route was safety concerns. The hope is that students no longer need to walk across U.S. Highway 2 and the train tracks on their way to school.

Perkins hopes that another driver can be found when the school district holds driving school on April 10-19.

Perkins said during a recent school board meeting that he hopes to hire five new drivers with the 10day training. Having the training in Wolf Point saves the district from paying travel and lodging costs. Trustees approved paying nonstaff members $15 an hour for the training.

“You’re going to have to put out money to get drivers,” Perkins said at the meeting.