Next Monday, Aug. 8, the Fountain Hills Charter School and all sites within the Fountain Hills Unified School District will open their doors to begin the 2016-17 academic year.

The new school year begins with all FHUSD sites observing a regular schedule and the FHCS operating on an early release schedule. The early release schedule will continue through Wednesday, Aug. 10, for Charter School kindergarteners.

Motorists are reminded that, with the start of a new school year, the local streets are about to get a bit more crowded as buses and parents drop off their students each morning and pick up their students in the afternoon.

Extra caution, especially in school zones, is encouraged.

FHUSD buses

The following is a statement from Fountain Hills Unified School District Transportation Director John Flynn concerning bus routes for the 2016-17 school year:

There are virtually no changes to morning and afternoon pick up and drop locations and their corresponding routes.

This is also the case for morning pickup times. Due to a change in the high school end of day bell schedule, drop times in the afternoon have changed for most routes. In most cases, by no more than six minutes.

This year:

*Middle school student athletes going to the high school for practice can ride any bus to the high school.

*High school and middle school students traveling to the Boys & Girls Club will take the Bookworm route.

*Elementary students traveling to the Boys & Girls Club, as well as elementary students traveling intra-school, will use the Frog route.

*Students traveling to and from the East Valley Institute of Technology ("EVIT") will use the Kangaroo route.

*Students traveling to the Fountain Hills Town library will use the Bear route.

If you have questions or comments, contact John Flynn at 480-664-5310 or email JFlynn@FHUSD.org.