Saturday, October 23, 1999
Schools reduce bus time
Lebanon changes times, routes
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
LEBANON — Many children who ride the Lebanon Schools' buses should find their ride home 20 to 30 minutes shorter beginning Monday.
That's the plan in a revised bus routing system that eliminates the need for most children to change buses in the afternoon.
“It's kind of like another opening day — for buses,” said Stu Long, director of business. “I'm optimistic the change will solve most of the time problems we've been having.”
When Laidlaw took over bus operations this year, the district went from a triple routing system — picking up one group of children, dropping them off, going back for another group and then a third group — to a double routing system.
Often, bus drivers had to wait 20 to 30 minutes for children who transferred from other buses. That created bus rides of 60 to 90 minutes for some students.
“Bringing students to one school (for transfers) has lengthened transportation time more than anyone was comfortable with,” said Katie Poitinger, president of the Lebanon Board of Education. “Now we'll have one set of buses for two elementary schools and one set for the other two. I expect wrinkles though the first few days until we're all used to this new system.”
Children who attend Dunlavy and Holbrook elementary schools will ride one series of buses, while those who go to Louisa Wright Elementary and Donovan Intermediate School will ride an other.
The only children who might still have to transfer buses are those who attend private or parochial schools, Mr. Long said. However, those children will have to transfer only once, not twice as they do now.
“Hopefully, it will be better,” said parent Jenny Flaig, who has been picking her children up from Dunlavy to avoid an hourlong ride home. “I'll see how it goes. It has to be better. It's been crazy here.”
Parent Sharon Mann said the change should mean her three children get home from school earlier.
The first few days of school, her children were on the bus two or more hours in the afternoons. Once things settled a little, their bus time was reduced to 45 to 60 minutes.
Mrs. Mann estimates Monday's change should cut their time by another 15 minutes.
“I think it's going to be hard on the little ones who are just now getting situated. Now they have to figure out a new bus,” Mrs. Mann said. “I think it's going to be hard on the parents who switched their schedules to match the buses. I only work part-time, so it will be relatively easy for me.”
Letters informing parents of the changes, their child's bus number and the new pick-up/drop-off times were mailed. Each family should receive its letter no later than today.
Parents can call the transportation office, 932-2298, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
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