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BOE: Bus problems
By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com
Bus
problems are mostly solved, reported the Transportation Task Force to
the Fayette County Board of Education Monday night.
School Board
member Janet Smola summarized the accomplishments by stating, ”By
enacting this plan, we have eliminated double bus pick-ups in subdivisions,
separated middle school students from high school students and have not
had to institute expenditures of $1.248 million. This was not just a cost
saving measure. We have implemented safer and timelier circulation to
get students to school.”
Superintendent John DeCotis agreed, but tempered it by saying, “There
are a good number of changes being made. Some of these are good and some
people are still not happy. We will continue to work on these issues.”
Since a rocky start, the kinks have been systematically worked on by the
school board and the Transportation Department. The task force was formed
to examine the main issues and find resolutions. The task force presented
their findings at a called work session on Monday night, and it appears
many of the issues have been handled.
The main issue was cases where last year the bus stopped in a subdivision
but this year stopped at the intersection of the subdivision and the trunk
route.
The solution, currently being implemented, asks parents to cooperate to
adjust to the changes, which the school board says will decrease congestion
and increase safety.
When there are multiple complaints about a stop, the driver will note
it and Pam Holt and the Transportation Department will review the stop
again. If determined appropriate, the bus can make one stop in the subdivision.
Another main issue that has been resolved is if a bus stop is near the
home of a known sex offender. The bus stop is moved the away from the
home and the neighborhood is encouraged to meet and decide how they want
to deal with the safety of their children.
Other issues resolved involve too many children at a bus stop and elementary
school children reportedly having to walk too far to their bus stop.
Different bus stop locations for each group of students have been established
and bus pick up times have been staggered to solve the first problem,
while if a distance greater than .5 miles between the child’s home
and the bus stop is determined, a new bus stop is established.
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