Middleton board approves revised middle school bus and parent drop‑off plan

The Middleton School District Board of Trustees on Monday approved a revised route for middle school bus drop‑off and parent pickup intended to separate bus traffic from parents and reduce congestion on Main Street. The board voted by voice to approve the change after staff described a circulation plan that routes buses in on Viking Drive, past the baseball field and skating area, with angled parking so buses do not need to back up.

Board member Mr. Hson, who described morning conditions in which students “run to their friends and they don't pay attention,” said safety was the primary rationale for the redesign, followed by efforts to alleviate backups on Main Street. Staff said buses typically depart quickly after loading and that the district will pave the designated bus area so students disembark onto pavement rather than mud.

Gina Dennis, representing Caldwell busing, told the board the routing would avoid conflicts between buses and parent vehicles and that the arrangement had worked well when used previously. Trustees also discussed operational details: staff will include a map and instructions in the end‑of‑year family email, maintenance will stripe arrows for flow, and a gate can be locked during bus loading; staff said buses are generally gone by about 3:52 p.m.

The board approved the motion by voice vote; individual tallies were not specified. The plan includes paving the bus area, establishing a secured morning check‑in point for students, and communicating the new traffic pattern to families before the school year.