Dear Superintendent Robert Hunt and Mike Morgan,
We are writing to express our concerns for our children on the Gurney & Intermediate Bus Routes and their prolonged ride times. We have analyzed the Gurney bus routes from the published schedules and found that 47% of kids spend more than 60 minutes on the bus each day; in the morning 53% (more than 30 minutes) & 20% (more than 45 minutes), with 2 kids having more than a 60 minute bus ride in the morning; in the afternoon 31% (more than 30 minutes) & 28 kids (more than 45 minutes). 12 children spend more than 90 minutes on the bus each day. Intermediate bus routes have the same high percentage of long routes.
Over the last school year many parents have expressed concerns to the Gurney Transportation supervision and the Superintendent, with no solutions given and minimal changes to the bus routes. Some parents suggested a “first on first off” solution but were told that it was not possible. Some bus changes were made so that some children now have a slightly shorter bus ride home, but it appears that what ultimately happened was other students now have those long bus rides. Parents were never given any information on how or why the routes are the way they are or if the issue is a need for more buses. We were only told that the school district tries to get as many kids as they can to and from school as fast as they can, and the people who the district considers to live on the “fringes” suffer due to location. When in fact there are many children who live in the village and within 5 minutes of the school that have close to an hour bus ride. Having such long rides for young kids is difficult as there is no food or water allowed on the bus, no bathrooms, and long rides ultimately impact their learning at school and at home with homework. This makes for very long days for these children.
Parents who have signed this letter believe about a 30 min ride time maximum each way is reasonable for young children. Last year, Dr. Hunt told parents that he instructed the bus director to strive to keep ride times under 45 minutes per ride. Yet, 26.4% of our children have greater than a 45 minute bus ride, sometimes close to an hour and each way.
The below signed parents propose new routes that are more equitable for all who ride. Parents should not feel like they have to drop off and pick up their children because their bus rides are too long. Every child should be offered a reasonable ride, regardless of location. Our main goal is for major changes to be made for children with very long ride times and to have ride times spread more evenly throughout the district.
Respectfully submitted,
14 Comments
This is our first year at Gurney and I was shocked at how long my kids are on the bus for each way. Because of work hours, we are not able to drop off and pick them up and would love to find a solution for shorter bus routes for these little ones.
This is in no way a reflection on the hard working drivers of the district. We are very proud of and appreciative of all that you do and the excellent care that you take of our kids. No greater trust that a parent can give to someone other than the care of our children, for that we are grateful. The bigger issue is that it was acknowledged as an issue but the people in charge and only empty promises and lip service was given - if they are going to acknowledge that ride times are too long and a problem then take the next step and at least try and fix the noted issue
I live a little over one mile from Gurney on Walters and my kids (twin 5 year olds) get on the bus at 720 to get to school at 830 and the ride home ends at 415. I started driving them in the morning so they don’t have be up at 630 in the morning and be the first ones on and get a little more sleep. A couple teachers have even said the routes are ridiculous for the little ones. Something needs changed, Mike Morgan seems like a very good guy, I am sure if a viable plan is presented something can change
My son's bus ride to Gurney is 70 minutes roundtrip every day. He is five years old. I was quite surprised considering that there is another bus that drives by my house twenty minutes earlier in the afternoon.
We live on Cannon Rd. and our Gurney kids get home later than our CFIS kid... and the littles haven’t been getting home until 4:15 or a few minutes later! It makes for a long day
While my children do not have long rides, I feel greatly for those children who are.
Please shorten the ride time
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Dear Superintendent Robert Hunt and Mike Morgan,
We are writing to express our concerns for our children on the Gurney & Intermediate Bus Routes and their prolonged ride times. We have analyzed the Gurney bus routes from the published schedules and found that 47% of kids spend more than 60 minutes on the bus each day; in the morning 53% (more than 30 minutes) & 20% (more than 45 minutes), with 2 kids having more than a 60 minute bus ride in the morning; in the afternoon 31% (more than 30 minutes) & 28 kids (more than 45 minutes). 12 children spend more than 90 minutes on the bus each day. Intermediate bus routes have the same high percentage of long routes.
Over the last school year many parents have expressed concerns to the Gurney Transportation supervision and the Superintendent, with no solutions given and minimal changes to the bus routes. Some parents suggested a “first on first off” solution but were told that it was not possible. Some bus changes were made so that some children now have a slightly shorter bus ride home, but it appears that what ultimately happened was other students now have those long bus rides. Parents were never given any information on how or why the routes are the way they are or if the issue is a need for more buses. We were only told that the school district tries to get as many kids as they can to and from school as fast as they can, and the people who the district considers to live on the “fringes” suffer due to location. When in fact there are many children who live in the village and within 5 minutes of the school that have close to an hour bus ride. Having such long rides for young kids is difficult as there is no food or water allowed on the bus, no bathrooms, and long rides ultimately impact their learning at school and at home with homework. This makes for very long days for these children.
Parents who have signed this letter believe about a 30 min ride time maximum each way is reasonable for young children. Last year, Dr. Hunt told parents that he instructed the bus director to strive to keep ride times under 45 minutes per ride. Yet, 26.4% of our children have greater than a 45 minute bus ride, sometimes close to an hour and each way.
The below signed parents propose new routes that are more equitable for all who ride. Parents should not feel like they have to drop off and pick up their children because their bus rides are too long. Every child should be offered a reasonable ride, regardless of location. Our main goal is for major changes to be made for children with very long ride times and to have ride times spread more evenly throughout the district.
Respectfully submitted,
14 Comments
My girls are in the bus an hour in the AM and up to 40 minutes in the PM and we live 8 minutes tops from the IS. Been battling this since Gurney days
This is our first year at Gurney and I was shocked at how long my kids are on the bus for each way. Because of work hours, we are not able to drop off and pick them up and would love to find a solution for shorter bus routes for these little ones.
This is in no way a reflection on the hard working drivers of the district. We are very proud of and appreciative of all that you do and the excellent care that you take of our kids. No greater trust that a parent can give to someone other than the care of our children, for that we are grateful. The bigger issue is that it was acknowledged as an issue but the people in charge and only empty promises and lip service was given - if they are going to acknowledge that ride times are too long and a problem then take the next step and at least try and fix the noted issue
I live a little over one mile from Gurney on Walters and my kids (twin 5 year olds) get on the bus at 720 to get to school at 830 and the ride home ends at 415. I started driving them in the morning so they don’t have be up at 630 in the morning and be the first ones on and get a little more sleep. A couple teachers have even said the routes are ridiculous for the little ones. Something needs changed, Mike Morgan seems like a very good guy, I am sure if a viable plan is presented something can change
My son's bus ride to Gurney is 70 minutes roundtrip every day. He is five years old. I was quite surprised considering that there is another bus that drives by my house twenty minutes earlier in the afternoon.
We live on Cannon Rd. and our Gurney kids get home later than our CFIS kid... and the littles haven’t been getting home until 4:15 or a few minutes later! It makes for a long day
While my children do not have long rides, I feel greatly for those children who are.
Please shorten the ride time
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My girls are in the bus an hour in the AM and up to 40 minutes in the PM and we live 8 minutes tops from the IS. Been battling this since Gurney days