“We’re really taking a close look at making the buses as full as possible with reasonable routes,” said Charles Thiel, superintendent for the district.
In addition, Thiel said district officials will ask parents to identify a second route at which students can be dropped off in case of an emergency.
In previous years, he said parents often asked if their students could be dropped off at a different stop, such as if they were attending a sleepover with friends. But with more crowded buses, that may not be feasible, and it can create confusion for drivers.
Instead, he said parents will be asked to identify one additional stop at which their student can be dropped off in an emergency situation or if a parent isn’t available to pick them up. If they need to change the stop, parents can fill out a form to request a change during the school year.
“We’re trying to help parents think ahead if they have an emergency situation,” Thiel said.
In addition to the changes in bus routes, Thiel said the district will implement a new financial education program at the junior high school.
The class, which will provide such information as balancing a family budget and managing checkbooks, will be offered online. Doing so also will help students become more familiar with online courses, Thiel said.
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