Tell City-Troy Township Schools Resume Most Bus Routes; Some Stops Remain Unsafe

Tell City–Troy Township Schools resumed most school bus routes on Wednesday, Feb. 3, after rising temperatures and melting ice improved road conditions. District leaders say the thaw has made the majority of routes safe to run again, but officials warned that a small number of pickup points and walking areas remain hazardous.

Eyewitness News reported that while “not every route is perfect, most are safe for travel.” The district’s approach is targeted: bus drivers will contact families affected by unsafe stops to “help arrange an alternate pickup location,” officials said. One specific exception was identified in Troy, where “one pickup location in Troy will not be relocated and will not be able to pick up across from the hospital.” Bus drivers will reach out directly to families who use that stop.

The return to service follows a day of wider disruption. Local station WFIE reported that buses did not run the previous day, with leaders telling parents that “classes will once again go on as normal tomorrow, but there will be no school buses running.” The station noted that this pause was caused by “the continued ice and snow on the roads” and reminded families that “if students can’t make it to school, their absence will be excused.” WFIE also warned that “the lack of buses also means there will be no transportation home” on days when routes are canceled.

For parents and caregivers in Perry County, the staggered resumption matters in practical ways. Many families rely on district transportation for morning and afternoon travel, and remaining unsafe pickup points could force parents to arrange last-minute rides, shift work schedules, or keep students home—steps that can deepen strains on households already balancing jobs, childcare, and access to school meals. Students who walk to stops face heightened injury risk on icy sidewalks and road edges until thawing continues.

Public safety and equity are central concerns. Concentrated pockets of lingering ice are most likely on low-traffic roads, steep approaches, and near shaded sidewalks where thawing lags. That pattern can disproportionately affect families in outlying neighborhoods who have fewer alternate transportation options. The district’s plan to have drivers contact affected households aims to reduce disruption, but the lack of a relocated pickup for the Troy stop across from the hospital underscores the limits of quick fixes.

Parents should expect direct outreach from their child’s bus driver if their stop is affected and plan for alternate drop-off or pickup arrangements if notified. District officials will continue to assess road and walking conditions as temperatures rise and will adjust service as safety permits. For now, most students will again ride the bus, while a small number will need short-term alternate plans until every stop is deemed safe.