Middle school students present ideas to cut bus costs and emissions — vans for sports, 'Cyber Fridays,' and routing tweaks

Three Stetson Middle School eighth graders presented a transportation-research project to the property finance committee on April 22, pitching three ideas intended to reduce transportation costs and environmental impact: renting smaller vans for low‑attendance sports trips, experimenting with remote instruction for periodic "Cyber Fridays," and adopting strategic rerouting (favoring right turns) to reduce fuel use.

Joe Paris, the students’ technology-education teacher, introduced the presenters and said the project aimed to improve efficiency while maintaining service. Student presenter Maddie Anderson told the committee, “Buses are important, but they're expensive and impact the environment,” and said the team focused on practical trade-offs.

The three students — Maddie Anderson, Ella Harriman and Rachel Pitts — proposed: - Rent vans for some sports trips when a full bus is not needed. The students said vans can be cheaper and are seat‑belted;…