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School District 51 Bus Route Changes Now Available

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Aug 6, 2012 at 11:12 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 7, 2012 at 7:38 AM MDT

MESA COUNTY, Colo.-
"We're still working on some routes. We're adding some as a result of some of the concerns that have come in," noted Leon.

The expansion of the walking distance by one mile has been met with some opposition. Under the new plan, high school and middle school students have to live three miles or more from the school in order to take a bus, versus the old two mile rule, and elementary school students would have to live two miles or more from the school to qualify, versus one.

Many pickup and drop-off locations will also change.

"Any way we can squeeze routes together and combine routes, we're doing that," said Leon.

A total of 16 routes have been eliminated, which saves the school district $645,000. It also saves 12 teaching jobs.

"That's good. It keeps teachers in the district. Then they don't have to relocate," said David Smith, a newly hired physical education teacher who says the extra walking will be good exercise for the kids.

However, parents have expressed concerns over the safety of some of those roads. This had led to some last minute route additions near Appleton Elementary and Independence Valley and Ranch off Broadway.

The school district also has a safety committee to review routes that have parents concerned.

To submit a claim or to view the new and altered bus routes, go to www.mesa.k12.co.us.

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Chuck Shepard said on Tuesday, Aug 7 at 12:21 PM

Lets take expense saving a few steps farter, EVERYONE involved with the bus changes, from mis-administration, school board, down now is REQUIRED to park at the convention center, st mary's, or new county bldg on 29 1/2 rd, AND WALK TO WORK, AND B E ONSITE 15 MIN EARLY. At the same time they ALL take a CUT IN PAY TO MIN WAGE. if it's good enough for school kids it's good enough for jerks that set it up.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Aug 7 at 1:33 PM

Well said Chuck, now let's add a couple of inches of snow, cold, and darkness to that situation...that is what is expected of our children.

Lisa said on Tuesday, Aug 7 at 3:35 PM

I have been trying for 2 weeks now to look up the bus schedule and have even tried calling First Student. I am having no luck.

Lisa and Dan Wabel said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 8:30 PM

I am not at all opposed to children getting their exercise. However, to send my boy off to school for a 3 mile walk with a 15 lb backpack (on a light week) and an instrument at 6:30 in the morning when it's dark, snowing, and raining, and expose him to both the elements and PREDATORS is infuriating! There has to be another way to free up money to educate the children of Mesa County without putting the kids at risk. My son's in Middle School and I still think he is still too young to expose to the dark of early morning. Even for families that have parents at home, this will burden the family unit with the cost of inflating fuel prices...maybe a greater percentage of families will be forced to home school and the children can miss out on the experience of a public school education and the socialization that comes with it. Woohooo, way to go District 51. P.S. Wait until the district experience increased truancy, tardies and absences...

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