BUCHANAN — Buchanan school officials are describing the new transportation pattern at Moccasin Elementary as a safer and more efficient way to drop off and pick up students from school.

After a slow start, those coming to pick up the students are beginning to see the positive side of the new system.

“It is getting better because people are starting to get the routine down,” said Tori Austin, who was sitting in her vehicle Monday afternoon waiting to pick up her kindergarten student. “With the amount of students that need to get out (around 450) and the amount of parents coming to pick them up — this is probably the only way to do it in a timely manner.”

Under the old system, a parent or guardian would go into the school gym to pick up their child. Now, parents stay outside or in their vehicles as school staff members dressed in bright green shirts escort each child to their respective parent/guardian. Each parent has in his or her vehicle a tag displaying the student’s name and grade, to make sure the right person is leaving with the right student.

“It really is a much safer process now,” said Linda Nania, while waiting to pick up her second-grade student Monday. “The only thing they could’ve done better, I think, is let people know about the new system sooner, maybe have a meeting about it.”

Letters about the change were sent to parents about a week before school, Austin said. Parents were also notified about the change at the school open house, Austin added.

Carolyn King, the person in charge of drop-offs and pickups, said it took a little while to get the kinks out of the system. On the first day, it took almost 50 minutes until the last student was picked up. It took just 30 minutes the second day, and about 15 minutes the third.

“It’s just a big change,” King said. “If we could come up with ways to do it a little easier, a little quicker, we are brainstorming that, too.

“The big thing is it is much safer. This way it is an adult-to-adult handoff to the child.”