Busing Elimination Postponed for Pebble Valley Area

Parents concerned about the elimination of school district bus routes in the Pebble Valley area got a reprieve this week as the postponed the elimination of the routes.

The district had informed parents that a review of the Unusual Hazard Transportation Plan for the Pebble Valley subdivsion and adjacent Woodburn Road and Willowood Drive had been conducted, concluding that the eastern portion of Pebble Valley and those adjacent roads were considered to be walkable areas.

However, based on concerns about the timing of the notice, the district is delaying making changes to the plan until next year, according to Superintendent Todd Gray.

Gray said that the district will be looking at this area and others considered to be hazardous walking routes for the 2013 school year, with the goal of eliminating busing for routes that may not be found to be hazardous.

“We’re going to do a very comprehensive study of this over the next few months. At that time, we will then ask the board to approve a new plan for implementing in fall of 2013,” he said.

The district had wanted to cut the transportation costs by 5 percent, about $350,000, according to Gray. Some savings were able to be realized with other busing changes but the district will continue to look for other changes to decrease costs, Gray said.

“I anticipate there will be some concerns as we begin to eliminate hazardous areas,” he said, adding that the process will allow time for residents to appeal.

In addition to concerns about the short notice of the changes, residents are concerned about the safety of children walking to given that amount of traffic on Grandview Avenue and Northview Road as well as Patricia Lane and Northview Road.