Proposed Dexter schools transportation plan saves $480,000; reduces busing services
Dexter Community Schools officials presented a transportation plan Thursday night that, among other things, eliminates bus service for Village of Dexter students who live within 1.5 miles of their school, reduces the number of bus stops and requires students to walk to central hubs rather then be picked up at their individual schools in the afternoon.
The draft plan, presented to about 30 parents, staff and community members at Creekside Intermediate School, is a cost-saving measure that will cut about $480,000 from the district’s projected $3 million budget deficit for next year.
If adopted, a draft transportation plan would reduce the number of bus stops.
File photo
The 10-part plan is partially based on a route optimization study that was conducted on the district’s bus system in 2009. It also took into consideration input from three public meetings on the study in February.
The proposal includes:
- Implementing a no-transport zone for Village of Dexter students who live within a 1.5 mile radius of their school. Students not in the village will not be affected.
- Eliminating buses for vocational programs.
- Adding hubs to gather groups of students to reduce the number of stops.
- Having students walk to a central transfer location for buses home instead of waiting to be picked up from their individual schools.
- Reducing department overhead by eliminating the administrative duties of bus drivers.
Creating a no-transport zone near the school is expected to save the district $180,000. Superintendent Robert Glass said the district is working with the Village of Dexter to increase the number of crossing guards and signaling mechanisms to make it safer for students walking to school.
Robert Glass
“I’m open to anything like that,” he said. “I don’t want to impact the program; let’s see if we can mitigate the impact.”
One question that remains unresolved was whether to maintain the district’s dual-tiered bus route or reduce it to one, as recommended by the route optimization study. Currently, kindergarten through fourth-grade students ride together and fifth- through 12-grade students ride together.
The district proposed three options:
- Option A: Place all students on a single bus run for grades K-12.
- Option B: Have two separate bus runs for grades K-8 and 9-12.
- Option C: Optimize current bus runs with more efficient routing. Students would maintain dual system of K - 4 and 5 - 12
Option C could lay off up to nine additional bus staff, more than the other two options, but would keep much of the schedule as it is now. It is expected to save the district $130,000-$175,000.
Option B is a hybrid between A and C and is expected to save $120,000-$160,000.
Glass said the draft plan was just one option available to the school district. He said the Washtenaw Intermediate School District is drafting a second transportation proposal which would consolidate the bus routes throughout the county. Though he could not give details on the plan, he said it was very similar to Dexter’s.
“There’s a parallel process going on,” he said. “I can tell you it will not be a lot different from ours.”
Community members who attended the meeting seemed pleased with the district’s openness but still unsure about aspects of the plan.
Bus driver Lynn Rich said he understands the district is struggling but thinks the transportation department is being affected more than other parts of the district He said he is also skeptical about the accuracy of the numbers presented.
“I don’t think we can get the full savings they want to get,” he said.
Dexter parent Meg Patulski said she is concerned about her two small children riding on a bus with older students but was glad the administration provided other options.
Scott Snow, a parent from Scio Township, said he would have liked to have seen an analysis of configuring the buses for grades K-6 and 7-12 but appreciated the district’s willingness to get the public’s opinion.
“I applaud them on being so open about it,” he said. “I just think there are other options.”
The district will hold a second meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 at Creekside to give another overview of its draft plan but allow more time for public input and answering questions. The administration will make a recommendation to the school board in April.
Erica Hobbs is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2537 or via e-mail at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.
Comments
bearcub1965
Thu, Apr 15, 2010 : 5:09 p.m.
Yes that is right. Outsourse transportation. How about the dedicated drivers take your job since they will loose theres if they outsource. Better yet why don't you pay all of our bills and see how you would like not knowing if you have a job next school year. Do you know how hard it is to get up at 430am to drive a bus not knowing what will happen next year? Think aboout that before you put comments like that out. We all still go in everyday even tho we don't know what the outcome will be. That is dedication.
BroncoJoe
Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 10:24 a.m.
Well, let's talk about costs. If transportation in the Village is eliminated, what about students that cannot safely walk to school? What about students that are too young to walk to school? Do you think it is reasonable for a kindergarten student to walk up to 1.5 miles? And let's say they do walk and they cross with a crossing guard - who pays for the crossing guard? The taxpayers of the Village pay for that. And who pays for the improvements to the roads and crossings? The Village pays for that. And who collects the taxes on the school property, all in the Village? No one, because there is no taxes on schools. So, the school district (including all the 60 square miles outside the Village) get reduced costs, but the Village taxpayers see all the additional costs. Not a very fair and equitable solution. How about we cancel bus service all together? Then EVERYONE would share in the pain and the savings. Then the people in the Village can pay for the crossing guards for their kids, and the people outside the Village can transport their own children at their own expense. Let's put our dollars in the classroom, and not at the expense of one portion of the district over the rest.
snapshot
Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
Seperfi, I read the article. So how many union workers have driven drunk, molested children, and even worse. In Ann Arbor a firefighter driving without a license, a county employee embezzling taxpayer funds, police officers guilty of brutality, and the UNIONS protect these people and defend them. At least in private industry we can get rid of the dangerous people without years of court costs, paid leave, buyouts, and early retirements. So I'm assuming you agree with getting rid of the unions that protect employees just like you want to get rid of private contractors who have violations, right?
newspaperreader
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 9:07 p.m.
It is going to cost more for the upcoming school board election than the savings by eliminating busing for the vocational programs. You are going to suggest that teenage students could car pool to the remote programs. What is this administration thinking? Didn't this community suffer the loss of a student during classtime already?
A Dexter Person
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
People may have forgotten, or perhaps they didn't live in the Dexter Community when it happened, so they just don't know, but Dexter has had 2 student fatalities due to a lack of safety policies. One was a Wylie student who was hit by a van on Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd. as he walked home from school (and yes, there were sidewalks & crossing guards then). This was maybe 15 years ago (?). That's when they decided to transport village students because it was safer for them to get to/from school. The other was a 1st grader just 10 years ago this month. She was at a group bus stop in her subdivision - just like the "hubs" they are proposing now. So what is so different now than it was then? Less traffic in the village? No, and there will be more cars around the schools because parents don't want there kids walking (especially on bad weather days) or on packed buses. Are there more stay-at-home parents will be at these group stops and supervise? No doubt riding the bus is safer than walking and more eco-friendly than everyone driving their kid. What I think is humorous is that they are suggesting kids ride their bikes to school...where do they strap their musical instruments and their poster projects? Will they ride on the sidewalks or in the streets?
huh7891
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 9:53 a.m.
I couldn't imagine forcing those kids that live within 1.5 miles to walk.. sorry that's unacceptable. Bad enough we have had weidos driving thru town exposing themselves to children in their own homes, could you imagine what it would be like if we force younger children to walk. They would be open game. How would they be supervised? Not everyone has the ability to drive or drop off their kids at school.
A Dexter Person
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.
Alexp: Reread what I wrote. I did not say $150,000 houses were in the village, nor did I say $400,000 houses were in the township. I never said anything about location of houses. I just said EVERYONE is paying school taxes and those in bigger more expensive homes pay more in taxes - no matter where you live. And those without children are paying school taxes too. If you live in the village, you may want to know that your village taxes will pay for all the extensive new sidewalks and crossing guards needed for the students to walk to & from school. Does someone know exactly how many will be walking to school? I think I heard that there are only 200-225 students that live in the village, that's 10-15% of all the students. Maybe instead of parents paying for bus service - above and beyond what they already pay in school taxes - the parents with walkers should get a rebate.
A Dexter Person
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 8:45 a.m.
Privatizing doesn't save money. It costs about the same as far as the school district is concerned. Instead of paying into retirement for employees, that money goes into the pockets of the private company. These private bus companies are making a huge profit and the drivers make less money, no benefits, no retirement, plus they can skimp on maintenance of the buses. And every year the contract fee goes up. School districts require random drug testing, annual physicals, periodic training and re-certification, background checks through the state police, plus they keep management/administrative control of their own employees.
alexp
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 8:40 a.m.
"A Dexter Person" -- Why do you assume that a village house is only worth $150,000? Most are worth much more. What is wrong with pay-for-service? Families that need it should pay for it. Give coupons to those that cannot afford it. Whatever shortfall there is should be covered by the entire community. Why home owners building in townships feel entitled to low taxes and full services totally amazing. School buses are just a different flavor of the sewer, police, and fire problem...
stunhsif
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 7:46 p.m.
So this gets them 17% of the way to 100%, big deal! Just like the Saline School District and A2 School District these folks are rearranging deck furniture on the Titanic as she is going down. Wages and benfits with the teachers union must take place, no way around it. We have not seen the worst yet, two years from now we will be "blown away"!!!!
guy in a tie
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.
How about a report on the unsafe crossing from Bates to Creekside? Baker is crazy with no crossing guard how can village kids get up the hill and home??? Very dangerous.
SemperFi
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 12:27 p.m.
Read this story, then tell me how privatized busing works so well. http://www.detnews.com/article/20100326/SCHOOLS/3260365/1026/Private-bus-company-hired-by-DPS-on-probation
Commoncents
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.
Privatize! The less government the better..... all government does is create inefficiencies with no incentive to improve
scooter dog
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
Its a start,I'd like to see them keep the drivers they have and NOT privatize them.My biggest beef is the curb service,stopping at each students house and WAITING for them to come out if their not ready when the bus comes,happens alot on my rd,or jaw jacking between the driver and parent while traffic backs up.
ChelseaGirl
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
It just floors me how many people already drive their kids to school. Coming down Baker road is a hazard due to all of the vehicles
A Dexter Person
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 9:47 a.m.
Folks with no kids at all are also paying school taxes, is that fair? Also, how do you feel about paying for all the social services plus other county programs that benefit those living in the eastern part of the county? Where do you draw the line?
A Dexter Person
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 9:42 a.m.
Don't you think the people living in $400,000 houses are already paying for support services? They pay more in property & schools taxes than someone in a $150,000 house.
alexp
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.
Please, please just outsource all bus service, and force parents to pay for it. Give coupons to families that truly need it. It's completely unfair to force families within walking distance to pay for kids living in $400,000 homes 3 miles from school to ride the bus. If a wealthy family chooses to live far from schools, fine, let them pay for transportation.
SemperFi
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 : 8:04 a.m.
This is good reporting. It covered the options that were discussed and presents personal concerns of parents.