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10th‑grade student urges board to study busing for Derby Township high‑schoolers
Summary
Tyler Barlow asked the board to consider adding bus service for Derby Township students, citing attendance and weather‑related lateness; Dr. Ryan said the district policy requires a home‑to‑school distance over two miles for high‑school busing and will task transportation to study the request.
Tyler Barlow, a 10th‑grade student, addressed the Southeast Delco School District board during the public‑comment period to request bus service for Derby Township high‑school students, saying long walks in snow and rain contribute to lateness and truancy.
Dr. Ryan and board members explained the district’s current policy provides high‑school busing only for students living more than two miles from school. Dr. Ryan advised the board that changing the policy or granting an exception would affect other neighborhoods (including parts of Collingdale) and likely increase the number of bus runs and staffing needs. He recommended the board task administration to work with the head of transportation (Mr. Kaluza) to analyze routes, required runs and staffing implications and return with a recommendation.
Why it matters: a policy change reducing the distance threshold or granting exceptions would increase transportation costs and could require additional drivers and equipment; it also has direct equity and attendance consequences for students who walk in poor weather.
Board members agreed to have administration examine the request and report back, with Dr. Ryan saying he expects to follow up next week and to include this sort of public comment in future superintendent reports so the board can track responses to community requests.
