Back To Class For Tulsa Public School Students

Oklahoma's second-largest school district started classes Wednesday, with about 40,000 TPS students and 7,000 employees now back in school.

Osage SkyNews6 was high above Emerson Elementary, just north of downtown, which is newly remodeled and now Oklahoma's only public Montessori school.

There is also excitement at Monroe Demonstration School.

Principals, teachers, Tulsa Police and Tulsa County Sheriff's Deputies helped cheer students on to class.

"It's good to see 'em. I haven't seen them all summer. But I'm specifically waiting for Chloe and Monica ... both my best friends," said Monroe student Chrinasia Elbert. 
    
Part of going back to school is getting students safely to their destinations.

TPS school bus drivers will make about 4,000 stops a day as they take kids to and from their stops.

News On 6 toured Paul Anderssen’s bus Wednesday morning as he was making sure everything was working properly.

He and his co-workers remind drivers to be courteous.

"They do stuff around the busses that they shouldn't be doing. So, cutting drivers off on the highway, things like that. You're always just having to watch the speed limit, you know, just kind of keep an even tempo," said Anderssen. 

TPS said they're still short about 12 bus drivers, so everyone with a CDL and bus permit is on the road until they can get a full driver staff.

The district also has a page on its website with all the "Back To School" information students and parents need.

In addition to Tulsa Public Schools, several other districts are going back for the first day today.  They include Sand Springs, Mannford, Oologah, Avant, Porum and Welch.