Due to reductions in state transportation funding, Rockwood has eliminated bus routes for high school and middle school afterschool activity buses, along with zero-hour buses at the secondary level. These transportation budget cuts affect the following First Student, Inc., bus routes for the 2010-2011 school year:
High School
1) Zero-hour transportation: All zero-hour bus routes have been cut at Rockwood’s four high schools. Families in need of zero-hour transportation should consider carpool opportunities or may contact Bill Sloan at Rockwood Transportation to determine if a middle school bus route can accommodate high school students.
Middle School and High School
1) Afterschool activity transportation: All afterschool activity bus routes will be eliminated at both middle and high schools starting with the new school year.
2) UPDATE: Rockwood is delaying the implementation of the one-mile guidelines for regular a.m./p.m. bus routes at the secondary level. The district will study walking conditions more closely for each school before moving forward with any changes to one-mile guidelines for secondary students.
All students living one-half mile or more from their school are eligible for bus transportation. The district will evaluate hazardous streets and cross walks in preparation of extending walk areas in the future. Parents are encouraged to check elink, the districts online transportation system, to confirm bus stop information.
State Budget Cuts Mean Difficult Financial Decisions
The elimination of these bus routes allows the district to re-assign these buses to run regular school day routes. This increases the efficiency of the fleet and will lead to a reduction of ten school buses.
The state legislature cut school bus transportation funding to the district by almost $1 million on June 17. The district will save more than $700,000 by implementing these bus routes changes, reducing the bus fleet, reducing fuel consumption and consolidating existing routes.
The state did not cut transportation funding for the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) located in Clayton. The VICC program contracts bus service for Rockwood students participating in the voluntary transfer program with Go-Ahead North America. VICC will continue to provide zero-hour and afterschool activity buses for students participating in the VICC program.
Rockwood continues to look for ways to increase efficiencies and provide safe, reliable transportation services for students. The district is forming a committee in the coming months to look for ongoing, effective approaches to reduce costs.
If parents or students have questions about the elimination of bus routes, contact Bill Sloan, director of transportation, at 636.733.2032 or email sloanwilliam@rockwood.k12.mo.us.