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Parent urges Kaneland board to fix long transfer bus routes, cites unused buses and driver shortage ahead of referendum
Summary
A parent told the Kaneland CUSD 302 board that some students spend more than an hour on transfer routes and urged support for an April referendum to relocate transportation and hire drivers; district officials said hiring remains a challenge and highlighted upcoming School Bus Safety Week and recruitment outreach.
A North Aurora parent told the Kaneland CUSD 302 Board of Education that lengthy transfer bus routes are creating unacceptably long rides for students and urged the board to prioritize transportation changes funded by an upcoming referendum.
"We live 7 miles from his school, but my son's bus travels 28 miles home," Audrey Worth said during public comment, adding that the Illinois State Board of Education recommends students not ride more than an hour. Worth said the district has 48 bus routes and 62 buses, with "10 empty buses" that could be deployed if more drivers were available and estimated the district currently has about 38 drivers and would need approximately 55 to eliminate transfer routes.
Worth urged local recruitment efforts — including advertising at area job sites and community college CDL programs — and recommended relocating the transportation department to Harter Middle School so buses could be centrally based to reduce transfers. "If we want change, we have to give our administration the tools and finances to make these changes," she said, urging the community to "vote yes for the Kaneland referendum."
District administrators acknowledged the driver shortage and said recruitment is ongoing. Director-level remarks and the superintendent's office noted the district will publicize driver openings and promote School Bus Safety Week Oct. 21–25 and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Oct. 22 to both reinforce safety and highlight job opportunities. The board and administration did not take formal action tonight; administrators said they will continue outreach and provide flyers and social posts about hiring and safety efforts.
The board approved the meeting agenda and the consent calendar earlier in the session; no vote on referendum funding or a transportation-specific plan took place at this meeting. Superintendent and staff said the referendum conversation will continue through community engagement events scheduled before any formal vote.
