from moving forward. Te district takes advantage of the op- portunity to replace buses on an annual schedule through the Kentucky Interlocal School Transportation Association (KISTA) loan program to maintain the fleet and avoid a sig- nificant increase in the cost of purchasing buses in any given year. An on-site fueling system was in the process of being in- stalled and was expected to generate significant savings. No matter the challenges, Freeman and his district employ-
ees work hard to maintain services for his rural community. Many households include a single, working parent or two par- ents who work, with many of the employers being of the industrial variety or located out of town. Parents must leave early for work and are not available to transport children. “Children and families are dependent upon a transporta-
tion system to attend school and receive other services that are provided through the school system (such as meals and health services). For parents who would be available to trans- port children, current gas prices could represent a significant cost,” added Freeman. Luann Jadwin also understands the needs for transportation,
especially when it comes to servicing her rural students, many of whom live in households that are poverty-stricken. Te Oak Hill (Mo.) R-I School District superintendent has looked into leasing, but there is no money to set aside for even this option.
“We have had to cut down the number of routes, which
has increased the time students are on the bus,” said Jadwin. At Germantown Hills (Ill.) School District No. 69, the trans-
portation department is currently deficit spending due to cuts from last year’s budget, according to Superintendent James Dansart. “If we see further cuts, we will need to reduce routes or force
more students to find alternative transportation,” he said. So far, field trips have seen severe reductions and extra cur-
ricular trips have been consolidated. But with a district with no sidewalks and two major highways, safety is still a huge concern, which is why the district buses over 95 percent of its students. “I hope the safety of students is not compromised to bal-
ance the state budget,” added Dansart. At Waconda USD 272 located in north-central Kansas,
budget constraints have students riding on an aging fleet that includes a Suburban to make some of the district’s daily trips. With 411 square miles to cover, the necessary consolidation of routes has only increased ride times. “If the funding drops to where it is predicted to, from the
governor’s budget, we will be funded on funding that resem- bles 1992,” said Superintendent Jeff Travis. “Numbers do not add up right when you are paying current prices on fuel, salary, and buses, but you are funded on 1992 budget numbers.” ■
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www.atlanticexpress.com 36 School Transportation News Magazine April 2011
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