Board approves bus routes and safety-busing criteria; district retains flexibility to adjust stops

The Teton School District board approved the district's proposed bus routes for the upcoming school year and adopted the safety-busing criteria required by the state to seek reimbursement for routes within 1.5 miles of elementary schools where safety conditions exist.

Kendall Jolley, the district transportation director, briefed the board on route changes and staffing. The largest change this year is a new short-bus route that will pick up special-needs students and travel a specific connector route (described in the transportation packet), and drivers will follow an assigned seating chart created to help substitute drivers locate students. Jolley said the district hired two drivers over the summer but remained short another driver and that routes may change slightly as actual ridership is confirmed.

Board members asked about dual-student routing (students living in one attendance area and attending school in another) and the district confirmed those transfers would continue to be accommodated. Jolley also described a driver-substitution plan and said the district maintains a pool of substitute drivers (nine listed) to cover absences.

On safety busing, the board reviewed a state-required scorecard used to justify busing in areas within 1.5 miles of elementary schools for reasons such as crossing a busy highway, railroad tracks, or lack of sidewalks. The board approved the safety-busing criteria so the district can apply for state reimbursement for those stops that meet the safety thresholds.

The board approved the bus routes and safety-busing criteria by voice vote. Board members asked staff to share route maps and seating plans with drivers and to continue recruiting one more full-time driver.