With the first day of school approaching quickly, Buchanan County families should review bus routes, transfer points, and pickup schedules for the 2026-27 school year.
Classes start on Friday, Aug. 21, and this year’s transportation plan features significant updates for high school students traveling to the new Southern Gap High School. Elementary and middle school students will continue to attend Riverview Elementary/Middle School, Council Elementary/Middle School, Hurley Elementary/Middle School, and Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School.
Southern Gap High School’s hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., while elementary schools operate from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several bus routes involve transfers at designated locations, so parents and students must familiarize themselves with transportation plans before the first day. School officials have also indicated that routes and pickup times may still change.
Grundy Area
The Grundy attendance area includes several transfer points where students change buses to travel to Riverview Elementary/Middle School or Southern Gap High School.
Bus 1, driven by Traci Boyd, will travel Route 83 from Sunset to Greenbrier Right and Left Forks before arriving at Paul’s Fans. Elementary students will be transported to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 71, driven by Charles Boyd, will serve Breaks, Crow Pass and Happy Hollow before arriving at Paul’s Fans. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School on the new road.
Buses 1 and 71 should meet at Paul’s Fans by 7:20 a.m. Bus 71 will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School, while Bus 1 will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 72, driven by Tommy Crigger, will serve the Top of Bull Mountain, Orchard Road, the Mouths of Doubling Fields, Jess’s Fork, Deel Fork and Charlie Hollow before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School. The bus will also transport Poplar Creek high school students to Southern Gap High School.
Bus 67, driven by Julio Dotson, will serve Main Harman, Belcher’s Fork and Convict Hollow before transporting students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 17, driven by Norma Looney, will serve Sunset Hollow and Route 83 to Leemaster before arriving at Vansant Church of Christ. The bus will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 70, driven by Chad Stevens, will serve Boyd’s Ridge, Union Chapel and Deskins before arriving at Vansant Church of Christ. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Bus 55, driven by Mona McClanahan, will serve Bear Branch and War Fork before arriving at Vansant Church of Christ. The bus will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 35, driven by Greg Tester, will serve Dry Fork, Deel and the Anchorage Shopping Center before arriving at Vansant Church of Christ. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Buses 35, 70, 55 and 17 should meet at Vansant Church of Christ by 7:15 a.m. Buses 35 and 70 will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School, while buses 55 and 17 will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 61, driven by Loni Webb, will serve Big Rock to Last House Hollow, Jack’s Creek and Brown’s Bottom before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Poplar Creek and the new road.
Bus 63, driven by Eddie Smith, will serve Conaway and Lynn Camp before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Poplar Creek and the new road.
Bus 60, driven by David Owens, will serve Airport Road, Southern Gap Development, Poplar Creek and Wood’s Fork before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 3, driven by Jerry Stiltner, will serve Stateline No. 2, the Mouth of Davis Ridge, Panther Ridge, the Mouth of Myrtle Road and Slate Creek to Smith Branch before traveling to the Central Office.
Bus 69, driven by Jon Prater, will serve Smith Branch, Stone Coal, the Mouth of Lick Branch, Elkins Branch and Slate Creek from Smith Branch to Elkins Branch before traveling to the Central Office. The bus will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Bus 22, driven by Jeremy Ward, will travel from the Central Office to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Buses 3, 69 and 22 should meet at the Central Office by 7:15 a.m. Bus 69 will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School, while Bus 22 will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 76, driven by Preston Hibbitts, will serve Hobbs Branch, Enoch’s Branch, Walnut Street and Slate Creek from Hobbs Branch to Walnut Street before traveling to Super Dollar. The bus will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School, then continue to Southern Gap High School.
Bus 20, driven by Mark Cooper, will serve Lower Mill Branch, Dave’s Branch, Walnut/the Mouth of New House Branch and Hoot Owl before arriving at the Farmers Market. The bus will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Bus 56, driven by Bill Christian, will serve Watkins Branch, Route 460 to New People’s, Route 460 to the Farmers Market and Poe Town before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School. The bus will then transport high school students from Riverview Elementary/Middle School to Southern Gap High School through Poplar Creek and the new road.
Buses 20 and 56 should meet at the Farmers Market by 7:10 a.m. Bus 20 will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School, while Bus 56 will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 59, driven by Rick Jackson, will serve Routes 6 and 20, Looney’s Creek and Stiltner’s Creek before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Poplar Creek and the new road.
Bus 65, driven by Doug Thomas, will serve Home Creek and the Left Fork of Home Creek before traveling to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 62, driven by Greg Rowe, will serve Little Prater before traveling to the Food City parking lot across from Pizza Hut. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Bus 68, driven by Anthony Church, will serve Leemaster, Red Dirt Road and Mott Branch before traveling to the parking lot across from Pizza Hut. The bus will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Buses 62 and 68 should meet at the parking lot across from Pizza Hut by 7:25 a.m. Bus 62 will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School, while Bus 68 will transport elementary students to Riverview Elementary/Middle School.
Council Area
Six buses will serve the Council attendance area, with students using transfer points at G&J Grocery and Council Elementary/Middle School before continuing to Council Elementary/Middle School or Southern Gap High School.
Bus 25, driven by Deanna Keene, will serve Prater’s Zip In and Paw Paw Road before traveling to G&J Grocery. The bus will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School.
Bus 73, driven by Antony Barton, will serve Big Fox, Little Fox and Laurel Branch before traveling to G&J Grocery. The bus will transport elementary students to Council Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 27, driven by Derek Ray, will serve Hurricane Creek Road, Rockhouse Branch and Fletcher Hollow before traveling to G&J Grocery. The bus will transport high school students to Southern Gap High School.
Buses 73, 27 and 25 should meet at G&J Grocery by 7:20 a.m. Bus 27 will transport high school students on to Southern Gap High School, while Bus 73 will pick up elementary students on Route 80 and transport them to Council Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 15, driven by D.J. Barton, will serve Boyd’s Ridge, Route 600 and Route 80 Main Road from G&J Grocery to the County Line Bridge, along with Hollow Poplar, Indian Creek, Lambert Fork and Copperhead, before traveling to Council Elementary/Middle School. The bus will transport high school students to G&J Grocery.
Bus 37, driven by Marlie Ball, will serve Fletcher Ridge, Indian Grave Gap, Stinson Ridge, Grissom Creek and Route 80 before traveling to Council Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 31, driven by Terry Austin, will serve Route 80 and Combs Ridge before traveling to Council Elementary/Middle School.
Buses 15, 31 and 37 should meet at Council Elementary/Middle School by 7:20 a.m. Bus 15 will transport high school students to G&J Grocery to meet Bus 25, which will then take them to Southern Gap High School.
Hurley Area
Transportation in the Hurley area will operate across three corridors — Rocklick, Elkins Branch and Rockhouse — with students transferring between buses at Justus Grocery, Hurley Square, Rockhouse and the Buchanan County School Board Central Office.
Rocklick: Bus 2, driven by Serena Ford, will travel the Right Fork of Paw Paw to Justus Grocery, where it will meet other buses. The bus will then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School via Rocklick, Poplar Creek and the new road. Bus 11, driven by Judy Sargent, will travel the Left Fork of Paw Paw to Justus Grocery, where it will meet other buses before transporting elementary students to Hurley Elementary/Middle School. Bus 42, driven by Danny Justus, will serve Elk Creek, Mill Creek and Race Fork before traveling to Justus Grocery to meet the other buses and transport elementary students to Hurley Elementary/Middle School. Buses 2, 11 and 42 should meet at Justus Grocery by 7:15 a.m.
Elkins Branch: Bus 49, driven by Trish Justus, will serve the Right and Left Forks of Guesses Fork and Pounding Mill before traveling to Hurley Square and transporting elementary students to Hurley Elementary/Middle School. Bus 52, driven by Morgan Vandyke, will serve Main Lester’s Fork and Davis Fork before traveling to Hurley Square and transporting elementary students to Hurley Elementary/Middle School. Bus 66, driven by Cheryl Justus, will serve Old Lester’s Fork and Brushy Fork before traveling to Hurley Square. High school students will then be transported to the Central Office to meet their high school bus. Buses 49, 52 and 66 should meet at Hurley Square at 7:05 a.m. Bus 66 and Bus 26 should meet at the Central Office at 7:20 a.m. Bus 26, driven by Scotty Bostic, will transport students from the Central Office to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Rockhouse: Bus 21, driven by Scott Embrey, will serve Laurel Creek, Knox and Straight Fork before traveling to Rockhouse. Elementary students will then be transported to Hurley Elementary/Middle School. Bus 28, driven by James Stacy, will serve Hiram Fork and Coon Branch before traveling to Rockhouse. High school students will then be transported to the Central Office to meet their high school bus. Buses 21 and 28 should meet at Rockhouse by 7:05 a.m. to exchange students. Bus 28 and Bus 64 should meet at the Central Office by 7:20 a.m. Bus 64, driven by Brandon Davis, will transport students from the Central Office to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Twin Valley Area
Eight buses will serve the Twin Valley attendance area, transporting students to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School and Southern Gap High School. Transfer points will be located at Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School and Carter Cat.
Bus 23, driven by Alex Rife, will serve Route 460, Route 626, Route 618, Shortt Gap and John Clifton before traveling to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School. The bus will then transport high school students from TVEMS to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Bus 34, driven by Howie Fuller, will serve Clifton Fork, Ratliff Branch and Keen Mountain before traveling to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School. The bus will then transport high school students from TVEMS to Southern Gap High School through Lover’s Gap.
Buses 23 and 34 will transport students from Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School to Southern Gap High School. The buses should arrive at TVEMS by 7:25 a.m., but no earlier than 7:25 a.m.
Bus 57, driven by Dusty Payne, will serve Compton Mountain, Pea Patch, Wimmer Gap and Contrary before transporting students to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 48, driven by Kristen Church, will serve Red Oak, Brown Mountain, Chicken Ridge, White’s Bottom and Spruce Pine before transporting students to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 58, driven by Carolyn Street, will serve Garden Creek (Drill), Long Branch, Breeden Branch and Old Vandyke Hollow before transporting students to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 7, driven by Samantha Justus, will serve Page, Garden Creek and Keen Mountain Camp before transporting students to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School.
Bus 33, driven by Hayden Fuller, will serve the Mouth of Hale Creek (Dismal), Dismal, Patterson and Big Branch before traveling to Carter Cat. Bus 33 will meet Bus 46 at Carter Cat to exchange students, then transport high school students to Southern Gap High School via Lover’s Gap.
Bus 46, driven by Tom Burniston, will serve Route 460 to Webb Branch before traveling to Carter Cat. Bus 46 will meet Bus 33 at Carter Cat to exchange students, then continue to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School.
Buses 33 and 46 should meet at Carter Cat between 7:20 and 7:25 a.m. to exchange students. Following the exchange, Bus 46 will continue to Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School, while Bus 33 will continue to Southern Gap High School.
Parents and guardians are advised to review bus routes with their children before Aug. 21, especially if their child will be transferring buses for the first time.
Since transportation schedules may change as enrollment and ridership numbers become clearer, families should stay informed by checking updates from Buchanan County Public Schools and verify their child’s route before classes start. For further information, parents can contact the Buchanan County Public Schools Transportation Department at 276-935-4551.
