Parent urges board to reinstate Country Blessings daycare as approved bus stop, cites NMAC

At the district's Oct. 21 meeting a written public comment urged the board and transportation department to reinstate Country Blessings daycare as a designated school-bus stop.

Board staff read the written comment into the record. The commenter argued the district is authorized to designate approved bus stops under the cited NMAC provision and asked the board to "once again approve Country Blessings day care facility as a designated bus stop," noting the daycare provides essential before- and after-school care for working parents.

The written comment quoted the NMAC language the commenter relied on: "school bus routes means a designated course regularly traveled by a school bus for to and from transportation to pick up students and take them to school or to deliver students from school to their homes, or to designate school bus stops that are approved by the LEA," and noted a reporting threshold rule for low ridership that requires notifying the department when a route falls below 10 students.

A public commenter, Don King, also asked whether the district remains considered a community partner and said he was concerned about continuity when students come for assessments. His question was read as a short public comment and no board action was taken during the meeting; staff acknowledged the comment and indicated the matter would be considered by the transportation department.

The comment in the record cites an administrative rule; the board did not issue a formal response or change in policy during the Oct. 21 meeting.