Park City parents will be able to look up their child's bus number, stop location and expected pickup time this school year through a new tracking program the district is piloting.

Transportation Secretary Reyna Velazquez told the Park Record she will oversee driver training and the rollout of the program, which lets families enter their address to pull up route details. "A lot of the parents are really excited and happy about that, and we're also excited to see how that's going to go," Velazquez said.

The tool arrives as the Park City School District opens its doors for the 2026-27 year with a staggered start: freshmen and elementary students return Wednesday, Aug. 19, and upperclassmen follow Thursday, Aug. 20.

Record preschool cohort, new curriculum

The district's preschool program enters the year with 222 students across all four elementary schools, the largest cohort in PCSD history, according to the Park City Education Foundation. That figure follows a 40% one-year jump from 153 to 215 students reported in November 2025, when the district began shifting toward a pre-K-12 model.

The program is already full. Families seeking a spot must join a waitlist by emailing [email protected].

Jen Bramson, an early childhood paraeducator with 15 years in the district and 20 years teaching preschool-aged children in the Park City area, said the program has adopted a new curriculum this year. She spent the summer working on professional excellence with the National Education Association and said she feels motivated to see how students respond to the changes.

Full-day preschool tuition remains $950 per month, September through May, at Jeremy Ranch, Trailside, McPolin and Parley's Park elementary schools.

After-school program adds woodworking

At Parley's Park Elementary, after-school program leader Merrylin Pham said enrollment has grown heading into the new year. The program blends enrichment activities with academic support for students falling behind, plus hands-on life skills like cooking. Pham plans to add woodworking this year.

Belle Malpede, a PCSD graduate who recently earned a kinesiology degree from the University of Utah, starts her first year as a middle school health and physical education instructor this week.

The district serves roughly 4,200 students. Parents with questions about bus routes can access the new tracking tool through PCSD's transportation office.