Free Transport to Leavenworth High School and Warren Middle School, Leavenworth, KS

Petition published by Shelia Baker of Shenandoah Heights and Ridge Community Leavenworth, KS on July 25, 2015

Target: To gain free school bus access for ALL Leavenworth High School and Warren Middle School students living in the Shenandoah Heights and Ridge Community, Leavenworth, Kansas

Petition Background (Preamble):

This petition is for pupils in attendance at Leavenworth High and Warren Middle Schools living in the Shenandoah Community on Tonganoxie Road (Highway 5) to be allowed free travel on the School Bus to and from school. As it is now half the Shenandoah Heights and Ridge communities are allowed free bus service due to the distance rule of 2.5 miles. The east area of the neighborhood is at 2.3 to 2.4. Those less than 2.5 must pay a bus fee.

The other option is to walk to and from school on the side of the road that is along Tonganoxie Road (Highway 5) which does not have sidewalks or lighting and is remote in some places which many feel is unsafe for the kids to be using. Crossing over 20th Street at Tonganoxie Road provides no red lights or pedestrian crosswalks. Then after crossing over 20th street the kids must again walk on the side of the road with only a partial sidewalk on Tonganoxie Road until Limit and Vilas Streets at which point sidewalks continue to each school.

Bus service is now free for ALL the Shenandoah Community elementary pupils attending Henry Leavenworth School on 20th Street. This was determined based on the above safety issues that also face high school and middle school students in the same neighborhood. This petition asks for the same consideration waiving the distance restriction for all high school and middle school students in the Shenandoah community.

The option of walking or riding a bike to school for the high school and middle school students is not a safe option. The request will ask the restriction based on mileage for free bus service be waived for the Shenandoah Community Leavenworth High School and Warren Middle School students, allowing them free travel to the school and home again in time and safely.

Petition:

We ask, respectfully, that the Leavenworth School Board waive the distance criteria for free travel on the bus service for all students traveling to and from Leavenworth High School and Warren Middle School who live in Shenandoah Heights and Ridge communities. The routes set out for pupils to walk or bike are not acceptable or safe. In the winter months travel to and from school as it is now will be treacherous, dangerous and unnecessary. We are asking that ALL high school and middle school students in Shenandoah be equally considered for the same free bus service option as that of Henry Leavenworth Elementary school to get them to school safely and on time every day.

Please sign:

Author: Shelia Baker, 2150 Shenandoah Drive, Leavenworth, KS. Please sign.