KO Board to Reconsider Activity Bus Decision

For budgetary purposes, eliminated after-school activity buses for the 2012-13 school year.

But after residents raised concerns at last week's school board meeting, the board plans to reconsider the issue and look at other options for providing transportation from after-school activities.

Two activity buses ran until 5:30 p.m., making two runs to each of the three boroughs that feed into the district. Eliminating the two buses resulted in a $50,000 savings for the school district.

Depending on the day or activity, the number of students riding the buses could range from five to 25, school officials said. Often, rush hour traffic meant it took as long as 45 minutes to bus the first round of students from the school to the outlying communities, which made the buses late to pick up the second round.

Board President Gary Alward said Thursday that district officials had received numerous calls and complaints about the decision, and some of those parents were at the meeting.

"My main concern is the students who do after school tutoring, which affects kids on the early bus," one mother said. "I am glad to hear that the school board might re-look at this."

Board members suggested running one bus instead of two, running a smaller bus, or charging a small fee for students to ride. District Public Relations Director Jim Cromie said the options likely would be based on what the district could fit into the budget, which was passed in June and does not account for running activity buses.

He said the discussion likely will come up at the board's Finance and Facilities Committee meeting, and at the next school board meeting. Committee meetings are open to the public. Dates and times can be found on the calendar at the Keystone Oaks website.

Follow Dormont-Brookline Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For more news, sign up for our email Newsletter.