Bus route changes coming to Wake County Schools next week
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- There are big changes coming to school bus routes in Wake County just one week before the start of classes.
The state's largest school district is reducing the number of stops for its buses, which means elementary school students could end up walking up to three-tenths of a mile to catch the bus. Middle or high school students could walk up to a half a mile.
School transportation officials said the changes are the result of an effort to increase efficiency. There will be 116 fewer runs and 4,000 fewer stops for 2014-15 school buses compared with last year's service.
The changes mean the transportation department can use the same number of buses and drivers to serve the thousands of additional students who enrolled in school this year.
For magnet school families, there are also changes. Instead of dropping kids off at last year's express bus stops, parents will have to drive students to nearby schools.
Hedingham is a sprawling community on Raleigh's east side. Bus stops there were mostly consolidated at the clubhouse. That included Lori Kleeberg's twin boys who are magnet students.
"I don't like it," said Kleeberg.
Kleeberg got a letter last week, but didn't pay attention to it until ABC11 showed up asking about her children's transportation. That's when she read it and realized her kids will now have to be dropped off at River Oaks Middle School, which is on the other side of heavily traveled New Bern Avenue.
"If our kids did have to walk to and from, they are in the neighborhood," said Kleeberg. "This is across a busy street. These kids can't feasibly across the street to get home."
After noting that Wake Schools blamed the state legislature's budget cutting for the massive changes, Kleeberg said she didn't know who to be mad at. However, she's still mad and likely won't be alone.
More than 100 bus routes have been cut. The biggest change by far is the elimination of 4,000 bus stops. So there is a decent chance that your family will have to make changes to your game plan just a week before the start of school.
"The timing is probably not the best," said Wake County School Board member Keith Sutton.
Sutton, whose district includes Hedingham, hopes most parents will be understanding.
He says many parents submitted transportation surveys and by the time they were compiled and then used to help set new routes much of the summer had passed.
Then, he says, there's the loss of state funds.
"We're looking at fewer resources because of cuts to our transportation budget," said Sutton. "All the while, our enrollment is growing. So we've got more students. We've got more riders. We've got more miles to cover. So that, that doesn't mix."
Sutton said he expected to get many phone calls and emails from parents about the changes.
The school system encourages families to check bus stop locations posted online for traditional calendar schools by clicking here.
