East Holmes reworks bussing
Planned cuts in bussing have been avoided for East Holmes students, thanks to a complete reworking of routes.
Superintendent Joe Edinger said Monday, July 23 at the monthly meeting of the East Holmes Local Schools board of education that new bus routes should result in savings for the district while ensuring every child still has transportation to school.
“We are expecting some outstanding savings without anyone losing a ride,” Edinger said.
Bus routes were part of a list of cuts to go into effect with the failure of a 3.77 mill levy in March. Originally, the board planned to eliminate bussing for most students who live within two miles of their school.
With the new routes, that will not be necessary, Edinger said.
Edinger said athletic director/transportation director Erik Beun will make a full presentation on the new routes at the August school board meeting. The routes are still being finalized but appear to be meeting their purpose, Edinger said, that of saving money and keeping transportation services intact.
“(Beun) said the plan is holding up very well as he is meeting with bus drivers...the fine tuning, like where to turn the bus around, is still being worked out,” Edinger said. “The routes are basically new to every driver. We’re basically starting over.”
The routes will result in fewer work hours for bus drivers, Edinger said. However, the hours can be made up with other duties that require drivers, such as delivering lunches to schools that have satellite kitchens. The routes can be completed without bringing back three bus driver positions that were previously eliminated.
At the close of Monday’s meeting, the board entered into a work session to prepare for six public, informational breakfasts. The breakfasts, which will be attended by board members and school principals, will give East Holmes residents a chance to ask questions and voice concerns about the district.
Edinger said the tone of the breakfasts will be informal. Breakfast for adults will be paid for by the Citizens for East Holmes committee.
“(District residents) will stay as long in that informal environment as they require” to discuss the district and ask questions,” Edinger said.
The breakfasts will be held on the following dates at the following locations: July 28, Berlin Farmstead Restaurant, 7-10 a.m.; July 31, Der Dutchman, 7-10 a.m.; August 1, Winesburg Dariette, 6-9 a.m.; August 2, The Carpenter’s Cafe in Keim Lumber, 6-9 a.m.
The next meeting of the East Holmes Local Schools board of education will be held August 20.
Superintendent Joe Edinger said Monday, July 23 at the monthly meeting of the East Holmes Local Schools board of education that new bus routes should result in savings for the district while ensuring every child still has transportation to school.
“We are expecting some outstanding savings without anyone losing a ride,” Edinger said.
Bus routes were part of a list of cuts to go into effect with the failure of a 3.77 mill levy in March. Originally, the board planned to eliminate bussing for most students who live within two miles of their school.
With the new routes, that will not be necessary, Edinger said.
Edinger said athletic director/transportation director Erik Beun will make a full presentation on the new routes at the August school board meeting. The routes are still being finalized but appear to be meeting their purpose, Edinger said, that of saving money and keeping transportation services intact.
“(Beun) said the plan is holding up very well as he is meeting with bus drivers...the fine tuning, like where to turn the bus around, is still being worked out,” Edinger said. “The routes are basically new to every driver. We’re basically starting over.”
The routes will result in fewer work hours for bus drivers, Edinger said. However, the hours can be made up with other duties that require drivers, such as delivering lunches to schools that have satellite kitchens. The routes can be completed without bringing back three bus driver positions that were previously eliminated.
At the close of Monday’s meeting, the board entered into a work session to prepare for six public, informational breakfasts. The breakfasts, which will be attended by board members and school principals, will give East Holmes residents a chance to ask questions and voice concerns about the district.
Edinger said the tone of the breakfasts will be informal. Breakfast for adults will be paid for by the Citizens for East Holmes committee.
“(District residents) will stay as long in that informal environment as they require” to discuss the district and ask questions,” Edinger said.
The breakfasts will be held on the following dates at the following locations: July 28, Berlin Farmstead Restaurant, 7-10 a.m.; July 31, Der Dutchman, 7-10 a.m.; August 1, Winesburg Dariette, 6-9 a.m.; August 2, The Carpenter’s Cafe in Keim Lumber, 6-9 a.m.
The next meeting of the East Holmes Local Schools board of education will be held August 20.
Published: July 25, 2012
