ROCK SPRINGS – Concerned parents started getting some answers on Monday as the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 had two forums addressing the proposed bus routes.

At the regular school board meeting in August, parents voiced concerns over a variety of things on the proposed bus routes. On Monday, the district explained several issues have been addressed.

The first concern brought up was the proposal to stop picking up kindergarten students at individual homes. On Monday, new Transportation Director Fernando Moreno said they will continue to get kindergarten students from individual homes. The students will then be dropped off at the end of the day at the closest bus stop.

Another concern raised by several parents in several different areas was young children crossing busy streets including Foothill, Reagan and Sweetwater to name a few. On Monday, Moreno said bus routes have been added to eliminate concerns.

These added routes included the President Streets and the homes located behind Home Depot to name a couple.

Also, several additional bus stops were added in different areas after safety concerns were voiced.

The department not only addressed some of the changes at the Monday forums but continued to listen to concerns. The department was taking names, phone numbers and concerns. Moreno said each concern is investigated and changes are made if necessary. The district is then communicating with the parents who voiced concerns. Most of the concerns voiced by approximately 10 residents Monday morning had already been contacted by the time the Monday night forum started.

Most concerns were resolved by adding another bus route or adding and/or moving a bus stop.

Concerns will continue to be investigated and in those situations where something needs to be changed it will. Several times Moreno emphasized these changes would be good for the upcoming school year but the routes would need to be evaluated next year.

Cold weather continued to be a concern for many parents. Moreno said they will investigate any concerns throughout the year and in cases its justified they will make changes but added the state really does have the district’s hands tied.

Several parents urged concerned parents to contact state legislators and see if these changes could not be made at the state level.

Moreno also mentioned several times he spoke with the city of Rock Springs and was told the budget is already in place and changes would be hard to make this year. Moreno added city officials were receptive to several of the concerns voiced about dangerous streets in the city and possible changes, including crossing guards in some of these areas, will be looked at during next year’s budget session.

Moreno said they will continue to work on concerns and make changes as they see fit. He said the new routes should be available for the public by this Friday.

Background

Several new changes including a new director of the Transportation Department took place this past summer. Moreno said the first thing he did was ride the bus routes and evaluate them.

A new computer program was also implemented this past summer. Board member Gordon Max Mikkelsen explained the program was purchased two years ago after a presentation by then director Pete Rust. Problems for the past couple of years have stopped the new program from being implemented.

The program helps identify the routes and calculates the safest walking distance for students. Many districts in the state have been using the program for several years. Moreno said he has talked to every transportation director in the state and most have said when they first implemented the program they also had several concerns raised.

Although the new computer program was implemented, the state walking distances have been in place for over ten years. The distances implemented by the state say those elementary students within one mile, junior high students within 1.5 miles and high school students within two miles must walk to school.

Moreno said these bus routes have been in place for many years. He said in the past when residents would complain, the department would adjust in response. He said there were also a lot of drivers who would make unexpected stops picking up certain students because of one thing or another.

Moreno said all he is trying to do is follow the guidelines which have been set by the state and to make sure everyone is treated equally. He explained if one student (who is not in kindergarten) is picked up at the house and a street down a child must go to the bus stop is not fair and is not treating everyone equally.

A parent questioned why is it a big issue if the district gets reimbursed for transportation. Moreno said when the district busses students who are within the walking radius they are not reimbursed by the state.