Full Notification

Oconee Schools begin tomorrow:

-Be watchful of school buses stopping
-Pay attention to deputies directing traffic
-Remember, there is a new school on HWY 53
-There is a new traffic light at Mars Hill/OCMS

All inquiries as to where to pick up and drop off students should be directed to the schools.

Please keep in mind that we have 16 deputies dedicated to directing traffic at school times. Our Patrol Division is only 32 deputies total and seven deputies per shift if everyone is on duty. We pull from every division to meet the demand of the school traffic.

Our priority is to keep the school buses on schedule. We simply do not have the personnel to put a deputy at every intersection and to deal with every place traffic backs up.

We don't need more personnel. Our call volume doesn't necessitate it at this time. School traffic times are the only instances in which we are stretched to our absolute limits, and we really, really don't want to tax you more to pay for additional personnel simply for two hours a day, 180 days of the year. We try to be better stewards of your money than that. The line item for traffic direction at the public schools is roughly $100,000 per year. The private schools fund their traffic direction.

Again, all inquiries as to where to pick up and drop off students should be directed to the schools. Our office staff and dispatchers do not have that information.