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Short school bus rides may end
By ROBERT KING, Times Staff Writer Children who live within 2 miles of Hernando County's public schools have long been able to ride school buses, even though the state doesn't require it and it costs schools money. But that practice could be phased out in the next few years. Ending so-called courtesy rides would save schools $460,000 a year, said school transportation director Mark Tallent. The big question, though, is whether it can be done without jeopardizing student safety. Superintendent Wendy Tellone wants her staff to look at the issue this fall as they review school start times, another issue with transportation implications. Like start times, ending courtesy rides has been brought up before. Board members have been hesitant to force students to cross busy intersections or walk through neighborhoods with no sidewalks. Tellone says she wants a sidewalk study conducted. She wants courtesy rides to continue in areas with inadequate sidewalks. In all cases, bus service would continue for special education students, regardless of where they live. Any changes should be phased in, she said, with the no-ride zone expanding outward a half-mile per year until it reaches 2 miles and bus transportation becomes mandatory under state law. Now, more than 1,100 students who live within a 2-mile radius of school ride a bus, enough to fill 23 buses. Tallent said most are elementary school students and most live in Spring Hill. The state gives the school district money for each rider it carries -- except those that live within 2 miles of a school. That money pays for drivers' salaries, fuel costs and new buses. Tallent says it costs the district $80,000 to carry just those students who live within a half-mile of schools; $260,000 for students within 1 mile; $380,000 for students with a 11/2-mile radius and $460,000 for the full 2-mile radius. No bus drivers would be laid off, Tallent said. The staff reduction would be accomplished through natural attrition. Westside Elementary principal Chuck Johnson said he is uneasy about ending courtesy rides, even though there's a good network of sidewalks near his school, which sits on a road (Applegate Drive) that's not as busy as some. "It would be a nightmare if anything were to happen to any of our kids," Johnson said. Aside from kids who live more than 2 miles from school, state law requires that bus transportation be provided to kids who would encounter hazardous conditions on their walk to school. Among those are intersections with high traffic volume. Tallent, the transportation coordinator, says he is sensitive to safety concerns. Even in neighborhoods where bus service might be discontinued, schools could promote bicycle safety or organize "walking school bus" programs, where parents escort kids over a certain distance before handing them off to another parent escort. But Tallent said money won't come before child safety. "My thought on it is we get out to take a study and look at it. If it is a safety issue, I would recommend they (be allowed to) ride the school bus," Tallent said. "If they can safely walk to school, then that's what we'll recommend."
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