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Board hears plan to shorten lengthy middle-school bus routes; district eyes 5 new buses and long-term fleet expansion
Summary
District staff told the board the average morning middle-school bus route is about 43 minutes and the longest is 56; the district plans to add five buses in October and is reviewing a proposal that would add as many as 24 extra buses at a one-time cost of roughly $4.2 million and annual ongoing costs around $1.2 million.
Anchor Bay School District leaders told the board on Sept. 24 that middle-school transportation routes have been shortened in recent weeks but that some students still face long rides — the longest morning route is about 56 minutes and the average morning route about 43 minutes. The district plans to add five buses in October and said additional purchases could further shorten routes.
Assistant Superintendent Todd Rathbun presented route data pulled by Transportation Director Steve Tucker and summarized morning and afternoon averages: “Currently, our longest AM route is about 56 minutes... The average morning route is about 43 minutes,” Rathbun said. He added that evening routes average longer runs but that the district flips routes so students who are first on in the morning are first off at afternoon drop-off.
Short- and long-term options
Rathbun said five additional buses are expected in October; with more vehicles and drivers the district plans to convert some long runs into multiple shorter routes. He briefed the board on a more extensive proposal to segregate pickups for two middle schools (north and south) so each school’s buses would pick up only that school’s students. District estimates indicated that segregating north and south pickups would require roughly an additional 24 general-education buses plus equipment and parking changes, with one-time capital costs the administration estimated at about $4.2 million and annual operating additions near $1.2 million.
The board discussed operational trade-offs, including hiring additional mechanics and dispatch staff, securing more bus parking and the 12-year typical lifecycle for buses. Rathbun said the district is also exploring a four-tier routing option (shifting school start times) but noted equity and scheduling concerns for families and staff.
Logistics and immediate fixes
Staff described steps the transportation team is taking now: monitor ridership to remove stops where students do not board, add buses as they arrive to split long routes, and work around short-term construction that delays some routes. Rathbun said the district has increased driver hiring and that transportation will continue to count riders during October’s required count week to refine routes.
No formal board vote was required on the report. Staff said they would return with implementation details if the district pursues a larger bus-purchase plan.
