Auburn Washburn details transportation outreach, route planning and crossing guard rollout

District staff gave a multi-part update on school transportation planning and safety at the July 7 board meeting, reporting response rates to targeted outreach, recruitment tactics for drivers and paraeducators, status of payment processing and short-term infrastructure work from a Safe Routes to School study.

Lede: The district reached out to about 1,276 students who live within two miles of their assigned school; staff reported receiving 1,231 raw responses (many duplicates) and, after deduplication, 784 unique responses (about 61%). Of respondents, roughly 55% indicated they plan to request transportation.

Nut graf: Those response figures will guide final route design for the 2025-26 school year, district staff said. The district also reported a vendor-side payment system glitch that was fixed by 4 p.m.; a July 15 payment deadline remains in place but staff said they may consider an extension to accommodate families. The board also approved a new crossing guard position and will roll out recruitment and signage to attract bus drivers and other staff.

What officials reported

- Communications and response rates: Staff reported the outreach tactics included one mailed notice, four e-mails, two text messages and a voice robocall; after deduplication the district has 784 unique responses (about 61% of the 1,276 targeted households). Staff plan personal phone follow-ups for remaining families. - Payments and deadline: The Infinite Campus payment system experienced a vendor-side issue that prevented payments; staff said the vendor provided a workaround and online payments were restored as of about 4 p.m. The district previously set a July 15 payment deadline and staff noted the timeline may be tight for some families and could be extended. - Recruitment tactics: To attract bus drivers, staff described refreshed signage, yard signs at 21 local businesses, banners, QR-code decals at point-of-sale locations, and increased outreach by principals and word-of-mouth. The board previously approved an increase in bus driver pay and experience pay for paraeducators; a new crossing-guard position will be added. - Route planning and constraints: Routing work must comply with state guidance that stops be sited at least 100 feet from intersections. The routing program is producing draft stops; final routes will be set once opt-in responses are complete. Staff said nonresponses by the stated deadline will be treated as an opt-out; families moving into the district after routes are finalized will be accommodated later. - Safe Routes to School survey and infrastructure: Consultant WSP recommended about 10 rectangular rapid-flash beacons and additional signage updates. The city of Auburn has already installed a beacon and is cooperating on sign replacements and repaints; the county has agreed to a cost-share and permit cooperation. Township coordination remains outstanding for Pauline Central and Pauline South.

Board context and next steps

Staff said routing work will intensify over the next two weeks as more responses are received; the transportation update will remain on board agendas through August with progress reports. Staff also plan to create an executive summary of the WSP findings for families and post materials on the district website before school starts.

Ending: The district emphasized recruitment and rapid follow-up as critical to finalizing safe, efficient stops for the start of the 2025-26 school year.