Parents object as school board approves meeting-point pickup plan for some routes

Parents and community members told the board proposed changes to bus pickups could make it harder for students to attend their current schools and create safety challenges in unstaffed meeting areas. A public commenter described the practical difficulty: “we're just trying to figure out how we can get our son on the bus,” and said the family previously relied on a direct route that may no longer be available.

The transportation director explained the recommended plan and said moving to meeting points could require buses to run earlier and might create short waits while routes interconnect. The director noted prior routing had at times required buses to wait 30–35 minutes for connecting runs and stressed that some meeting locations present sight-line and safety concerns.

After discussion and questions about staffing and safety at gravel-lot locations, the board moved to accept the transportation director’s recommendation. The chair summarized the board’s decision as establishing specified meeting points (Rockhouse, Slight Creek, Russell Prater and the identified gravel lot) rather than using a single centralized pickup at a school site.

Board members asked staff to coordinate on signage and suggested having staff or volunteers present at meeting points during kickoff, and the transportation director said he could arrange coverage during early school days. The board did not rescind the director’s routing advice; the motion to follow the director’s recommendation carried by roll call.