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Some Areas Spared School Bus Changes

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By MARILYN BROWN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 28, 2008

TAMPA - Families in Plant City, Brandon, New Tampa and the area around King High likely won't deal with the bus transportation changes next year that put other areas in chaos this year.

"The recommendation for next year is not to add any areas," Hillsborough Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said Monday during a school board workshop on transportation.

The three areas of the district were scheduled to be the last to make changes intended to save money and be more efficient. The phased-in plan places bus stops further apart, halts courtesy bus service to many families who live less than two miles from their school and also cuts bus service to many private day care centers after school.

The district's transportation department came under fire even before schools opened Aug. 18. Phone lines were jammed, and hundreds of parents couldn't get through to get information on bus stop changes even after school opened.

Problems are still being analyzed, but transportation officials outlined for six members of the Hillsborough County School Board how they occurred.

Next up are focus groups during November with drivers, exceptional student education staff, magnet program staff, principals, some school staff and parents. Board member Doretha Edgecomb asked that students also be included.

Changes planned for next year include:

•A Web site that will allow parents to view their bus stops before the 2009-10 school year begins, although how that will work is still a question.

•A new system to handle parent calls would emphasize return calls rather than placing callers on hold for long periods.

•Giving schools bus stop information until parents get used to using the call center.

•Having drivers practice proposed routes before the first day of school to identify problems.

Other possible changes:

•An incentive plan to encourage bus driver attendance. The district is still short 178 permanent drivers.

•Adjusting bell times at some schools by adding or subtracting minutes to give buses more time to get to schools.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069.

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