Oak Grove board delays decision on shrinking one-mile bus radius after safety, daycare and cost concerns

The Oak Grove R-VI School Board discussed proposals to redraw the district's one-mile courtesy bus radius at its regular meeting, but declined to make an immediate change and asked staff for further analysis.

Superintendent Jenny explained that narrowing the local one-mile radius could eliminate two full bus routes, an estimated $130,000 in annual operating costs, while expanding a full one-mile circle without treating the highway and railroad as barriers could save about four routes, roughly $260,000. She said state law requires transportation for students living 3.5 miles or more and that reimbursement for mileage between one mile and 3.5 miles varies with state funding.

Board members repeatedly raised safety and logistics concerns. One member said crossing F Highway was "more dangerous than the train tracks," and others questioned whether flashing crosswalks or crossing guards would be sufficient. Board members also discussed whether the district should continue transporting students to in-town daycares, and whether changes should apply to elementary students, middle/high school students, or both.

Board members asked staff to obtain precise ridership counts inside the proposed radius, cost estimates from the bus contractor for partial-route (half-tier) charging, and alternatives such as keeping daycare stops or limiting changes to secondary students. Superintendent Jenny said the proposed savings were already included in planning scenarios and emphasized the budget pressure created by expected state and county revenue losses.

After extended discussion of safety, equity, and operational trade-offs, the board declined to adopt a new radius at the meeting. The board directed staff to return with counts and cost comparisons and scheduled further review at a follow-up meeting in May.