District 113A to Keep Existing Bus Routes for 2012-13 School Year

With state transportation reimbursements expected to remain the same for the 2012-13 school year, the Board of Education has opted to maintain all existing bus routes.

Board members unanimously agreed Tuesday night not to move forward with eliminating two additional bus routes, an option recommended by the district's transportation committee in February as a way to save nearly $50,000.

The two routes would have affected approximately 210 students who live west of State Street between 127th Street to New Avenue and Timberline Drive. The walk zone would have been about a mile-and-a-half from the Oakwood/River Valley and SS. Cyril and Methodius campuses.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Board President Dave Molitor said transportation was being discussed at the request of the , which provides crossing guards for all District 113A walk zones.

Police Cmdr. Dan Tully had asked the district for an update on its busing plan so the department could budget accordingly, Molitor said.

During the board's discussion, Molitor said information provided by Operations Director Pam Mazurek indicated that last year's transportation cuts generated between 100 and 120 additional vehicles at the Old Quarry Middle School and the River Valley/Oakwood campuses.

"I know Pam has talked to the administrators in those buildings and they feel that they may not be able to accommodate (more vehicles)," Molitor said.

Board Member Al Malley, who is now a member of the district's transportation committee, said the consensus at the last meeting was that the committee was not recommending the cut. The two routes were merely offered as an option for cutting costs, he said.

Malley also said the committee has carried out the assignment originally set forth in its charge statement, which was to study the district's bus routes and find ways to cut costs.

In May 2011, the board voted 6-1 (former Board President Mike Aurelio cast the dissenting vote) to eliminated three bus routes that no longer qualified for state reimbursement:

• 127th Street from Covington Drive to Hillview Drive
• State Street from Keepataw Drive to 1011 State Street
• State Street from 132d Street to 127th Street

The reduction saved District 113A approximately $123,000, according to committee projections.

"In (the committee's) viewpoint, they have done everything asked of them," Malley said. "They didn't view this as a standing committee."

The board agreed to put the committee on a hiatus until circumstances change at the state or local level.

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