School starts Monday in Marion County — Drivers, Stay Alert

School zone sign on Marion Oaks Manor leading up to Ross Prairie Elementary School, located at 14320 SW 70 Avenue Road. The sign references flashing lights but there are none. Aug. 10, 2025 [Jennifer Hunt Murty/Ocala Gazette]

Classes begin Monday, welcoming a projected 46,195 students to Marion County Public Schools, district officials say. As thousands return to campuses, parents, students and motorists must remain especially vigilant, particularly around school buses.

“As we kick of the 2025 school year, the safety of our students- whether in the classroom, on the bus, or walking to school-remains our top priority. I encourage all drivers to stay alert, slow down, and stop for school buses. Together, we can ensure every child’s journey to and from school is safe,” said Lori Conrad the MCPS chairperson.

According to MCPS, first day of school encompasses two new schools for the district—Ross Prairie Elementary in Marion Oaks and Winding Oaks Elementary in Ocala.

The “Gazette” previously reported concerns that both roads posted speeds of 45 mph and reduced school zones were not intended by the county.

Ross Prairie Elementary School, located at 14320 SW 70 Avenue Road, is within the county’s jurisdiction. It sits off Marion Oaks Manor, which has a speed limit of 45 mph and does not have sidewalks, but a crosswalk near the school has been added since our last report.

The school district estimates that the families of 184 students will make their own arrangements to get them to school.

As of the date of publishing this article, the county has installed a sign around Ross Prairie that reads “School Speed Limit 20 when flashing. Speeding fines doubled,” but there are no flashing lights installed.

Drivers in Marion Oaks should be vigilant to observe school zone signs that may not have functioning flashing lights.

Winding Oaks Elementary School, at 7200 SW 49th Avenue Road, is located in the City of Ocala limits, but on a county road with hills and speeds of 45 mph posted. It has speed signs reducing traffic to 30 mph and what appears to be a flashing light that will work during school hours.

School Bus safety- we all play a part!

The district is operating about 250 bus routes daily, transporting approximately 23,000 students and covering 35,763 round‑trip miles each day—roughly 64 million miles annually, or enough to travel to the moon and back 13 times.

The district announced the new “My K‑12” mobile app allows parents to track buses in real time using student ID numbers.

Bus transportation details are available at your child’s school or the Transportation Department at 352-671-7050. “A word of caution – that hotline number is extremely busy at the opening of school each year, so patience is encouraged,” the district encouraged in an external memo.

Florida Law & Penalties

Florida drivers must stop for a school bus when its red lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended—travelers in both directions must comply unless separated by a raised barrier or an unpaved median of at least five feet.

Penalties include a minimum $265 fine, increasing to $465 if you stop on the side where children board or exit. Conviction also mandates completion of a Basic Driver Improvement Course and adds four license points. If a violation results in serious injury or death, fines rise to $1,500, a one-year license suspension, six points, and 120 hours of community service in a trauma center or hospital, according to Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.

Illegal passing of buses — Marion County can do better!

The Florida 2025 Illegal Passing of School Buses Survey by the Florida Department of Education shows that Marion County had 256 illegal passings in the past year (135 early morning, 8 midday, 113 afternoon) over 244 buses.

In comparison, among participating districts:

• Osceola County topped the list with 508 violations;
• Pasco County logged 427;
• Miami-Dade County had 408;
• Polk County recorded 386.
  On the lower end, Hernando County reported just 34 violations, and Citrus County had 65.

While the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) and Department of Education have reported a drop from previous years in illegal bus passings nation, signaling progress, Marion County’s numbers of illegal bus passings have stayed steady and have not seen a reduction.

These violations underscore that every driver must act responsibly. Children are often most vulnerable near school buses during boarding and unloading. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), as of Jan. 1, 2021, penalties for passing on the side where children get on or off doubled, reflecting the seriousness of these incidents.

Take Action — Keep Marion County Kids Safe

• Stop for every school bus regardless of direction or road type—unless legally separated by a physical barrier.
• Slow down in school zones —keep an eye for signs that might be malfunctioning or not yet installed around new schools.
• Use the My K-12 app to monitor your child’s bus, and expect lines and busy hotlines as schools reopen.
• Watch for kids walking or riding bikes to school as many schools in unincorporated Marion County do not have sidewalks or bike trails around them.

All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal, and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn. (see diagram, TWO-LANE)
On a highway divided by a paved median, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal, and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn. (see diagram, MULTI-LANE)
The only time traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop, is if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. (see diagram, DIVIDED HIGHWAY)
On a highway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least 5 feet wide, drivers moving in the opposite direction do not have to stop for the bus (painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers). However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus. (see diagram, DIVIDED HIGHWAY)