Summary
Trustees approved recommendations to add bus stops on several routes after staff said a statutory interpretation requiring a 1.5-mile measurement created eligibility for new stops; parents and trustees raised concerns about longer walks for rural families and a single-parent household.
The school board approved adding stops to several bus routes after staff told trustees that state statute requires a 1.5-mile measurement to determine student eligibility for district transportation, not a straight-line "as-the-crow-flies" model the district had previously used.
Why it matters: the change affects rural families across the district and will determine who is eligible for district-provided bus service or in-lieu mileage reimbursement. Trustees said several parents called the district asking for help after their stops were removed or moved farther from homes.
Transportation director Jessica Dator (presented in the meeting as "Transportation director, Jessica Dator") and other staff explained they reviewed multiple routes and identified about six additional stops to add on a new route and adjusted stops on up to five routes in the northern part of the district. Staff said the state Department of Education guidance had been interpreted initially as using straight-line distance, but the statute measures 1.5 miles from the intersection of the student's driveway with the public road to the nearest school entrance or bus stop.
Trustees and staff described outreach: district staff called parents who had reached out; for most the district found a compromise or alternative stop that parents preferred. One family described in detail is a single parent with five children who lives on a high-speed road; trustees said they were concerned about safety, snow removal and the longer walking distance. Staff said they solved three of four parent calls and would continue to work on any remaining cases.
Trustees also asked staff to keep the county highway district and other local jurisdictions informed of route changes so road-clearing can be prioritized where buses will run. Staff said the new routes will be run operationally, and the district will adjust stops after running routes and reviewing ride times to ensure students are not on buses longer or arriving home later.
Ending: The board approved the recommended additional stops by motion and voice vote. Staff said maps and a detailed stop-by-stop comparison will be posted and that they will continue to review routes and report back to the board.
