Parent says district failed to warn families about bus eligibility after rezoning; board hears complaints

Clint Devoe, a father of two, told the Washburn Board of Education on Monday that he and other families were blindsided when they learned their children would not receive district bus service after rezoning around the district's new middle school. "I literally called Friday and found out that everything was definitely not fine," Devoe said. He said district staff suggested instead busing his daughter "seven and a half miles to the other middle school, but not two miles to the middle school that was just built." The exchange took place during the public-comment portion of the meeting and drew clarifying discussion from board members and administrators. Devoe said district leaders had previously assured families in his area that students would follow enrollment and not need transfers to remain at their schools, and that he had repeatedly engaged the district about…