To avoid any first day of school jitters, the Apple Bus Company will hold a practice run of the new bus routes on Monday in preparation for the first day of school, which is Tuesday.

Apple Bus Company hopes to finalize route timing and pick-up and drop-off times with the practice run on Monday, but the district is warning parents not to be confused.

“Don’t worry, school starts on Tuesday,” said Pegge Erkeneff, the district’s communications liaison.

The Apple Bus Company buses will run their scheduled routes on Monday in real time and using all yellow and red flashing lights when necessary. They are going to stop at all known bus stops, in the morning and afternoon, according to a release from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

The Apple Bus Company started the first year of a 10-year contract with the district, marking the company’s first venture into Alaska and the end of the district’s tenure with First Student bussing.

The district does recommend parents do their own practice run on Monday to see how long it takes to get to the bus stop so that “students are ready to step aboard a new year.”

Bus routes and times are now available online through the district’s website. If any parents have questions, they should contact Apple Bus Company. Those in the central peninsula should call 262-4900, southern peninsula parents should call 907-235-0124 and Seward area parents should contact 224-3571.

“We’re excitied to start the new year and the new buses,” Erkeneff said. “We always like to remind people to slow down when they see the flashing lights.”