NATCHEZ &045; School buses taking children to Natchez-Adams schools should soon be hitting their schedule.

Friday, the first day of school, a number of factors contributed to afternoon delays of an hour or more for some students, Durham Bus Services Director Ron Idom said.

But problems and delays were cut in half Monday, Idom said.

&uot;The schedule we’ve laid out is going to work,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s just a matter of getting all the students onto the bus (on time).&uot;

Friday many parents brought their children to school in the morning, but had them ride the bus home.

Many children didn’t know which bus to get on, and some schools had miscommunications releasing children.

Morning bus schedules were affected by increased car traffic at the schools, which prevented buses from getting to designated drop-off spots.

&uot;It improved substantially (Monday) with the decline of parent traffic,&uot; Idom said. &uot;And we expect further improvement.&uot;

Superintendent Anthony Morris said his office had gotten some complaints about students who live deep in the county returning home in the afternoons later than last year.

&uot;But that’s every year at the beginning of school,&uot; Morris said. &uot;With children that are unfamiliar with what bus they ride it takes a little bit longer to get buses from campuses.&uot;

An annual problem was intensified this year since the reorganization of the schools sends children to the school of their grade, not to the school closest to their home.

Idom said some children will have longer rides this year because of the reorganization. Robert Lewis Middle and Natchez High schools will be dismissing 15 minutes later to accommodate bus route changes.

Drivers who formerly went to only two schools now must make stops at four.