Busing cuts provide district many educational challengesby Bob Gaetjens
Editor,
Gateway NewsStreetsboro -- Challenges created by busing cuts continue more than two months after cuts were implemented, say school administrators.
The schools began using minimum busing standard (which means no busing for high school students or other students who live within 2 miles of their schools) in January after the November levy failed.
Administrators are having to direct traffic in the school parking lots, said Streetsboro High School Principal Michael Berner.
This erodes the time available to focus on education, said Berner.
"It's having an effect because all people are feeling the stress of taking on more responsibilities," he said.
High school students driving to school also have had to adjust, he added.
"We're still dealing with a little bit of tardiness, but some of that is kids who were tardy before [busing cuts]," he said. "It was bad, but tardiness has significantly dropped since then."
Berner said teachers have to spend more time waiting for students to leave and arrive at their classrooms each day.
Berner said he spends 25 minutes each school day out in the parking lot directing traffic.
Also directing traffic are Streetsboro Middle School Principal Steve Hatch, Henry Defer Intermediate School Assistant Principal Joseph Timko, Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Diane Longstreth, Campus Elementary School Principal David Kish, and Wait Primary School Principal Jon Natko.
Police Chief Richard A. Taiclet said he tries to find time to direct traffic at the corner of Route 303 and Kirby Drive each afternoon at the end of the school day.
Timko said students at Defer don't lose instruction time or quality.
"That was the goal of the Board," he said.
Defer School instituted a change in the school day's schedule to accommodate busing cuts in January.
Timko said the arrival time was moved from 8:30 to 7:40 a.m.
Despite the changes, teachers' class time and preparation time haven't been decreased, he added.
"There's been no change in the amount of preparation time at all," he said.
Hatch said nobody likes the logistical challenges resulting from the busing cuts.
"It's hard on staff; it's hard on the kids; it's hard on the parents," he said.
When the police department is able to direct traffic on Route 303, things are better, he added.
"When they're available, it makes everything work very well," he said. "Ninety-nine percent of the parents are very patient and helpful."
However, he said the busing cuts create challenges for the middle school.
"When we try to call a [faculty] meeting, we often realize we can't do it because of bus duty," he said.
Setting faculty meetings is more challenging because they used to take place at the beginning and end of the school day, he said.
"I'm not available to help lead and direct the curriculum," he said.
Natko cited similar challenges at Wait, where he said he and teachers are pulled away from their regular activities immediately before and after school. Usually, Natko said he directs traffic while faculty members help make sure 160 kindergarten and first-grade students end up in the correct cars and buses.
He said the school lets out the afternoon "special" classes, such as art, physical education and music, about 10 minutes earlier than before, but there is no loss of instruction time in the core curriculum areas.
"Teachers are doing a nice job keeping disruption to education to a minimum," he said.
But he also said he's unable to meet with them easily before and after school to help lead them educationally.
Voters have rejected 9.5-mill levies in November and February. A 5-year, 7.4-mill levy is on the May ballot.
Hatch said he hopes voters approve the 7.4-mill levy in May so the School Board may be able to consider reinstating regular busing.
E-mail: bgaetjens@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3941
