Bonsall school bus issue draws crowd
By: TOM PFINGSTEN - Staff Writer
Trustees firm on cutting transportation; parents protest | ∞
Dr. Sarah Hoggan, a parent in the Bonsall Union Elementary School district speaks to the audience packed into the Bonsall Community Center on Tuesday during a discussion on budget cuts and the possible elimination of bus transportation within the district.
JOHN RAIFSNIDER For The North County Times
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FALLBROOK -- Educators tackled the thorny issue Tuesday night of whether buses will continue to take students to Bonsall schools, explaining that cutting bus service may be the only option for balancing the budget.
More than 100 people attended the school board meeting, during which Superintendent Jeff Felix and members of the board fielded comments from angry parents who said they were worried about what they'd do without school buses picking up their kids every morning.
One mother, Sarah Hoggan, said that she has previously driven her son to school -- an experience that she described as chaotic.
"I'd like to know what they're going to do about the chaos when they add another 700 students" to be dropped off and picked up every day, Hoggan said.
Other parents pointed out that the district covers such a large area that driving their children to school before they leave for work is an impractical and expensive proposition.
At issue is whether home-to-school transportation will remain or be eliminated for the 2008-09 school year, which begins in August.
The Bonsall Union School District covers 88 square miles of hills and narrow, winding roads that often do not have shoulders or sidewalks. About 700 children ride school buses to the district's four campuses.
School board member Lou Riddle said educators have explored every option in order to cover an approximately $900,000 budget shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
He said the shortfall is because of a dismal allotment of state education funding in the preliminary budget that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled last month. The district's budget for the current school year is around $11 million.
Riddle said the shortfall was bound to have negative effects on the district, but that the school board chose to forgo laying off teachers. Layoff notices for teachers were due March 15, and because the district has not sent any such notices out, teacher layoffs are out of the question, he said.
"This board made every attempt to keep those cuts as far away from the classroom as possible," he said. "We looked at eliminating teachers, classified staff, administrators. We looked at cutting music, sports, all of the electives. Nothing was left off the table."
Bus drivers are classified employees, and layoff notices to classified employees must be delivered by the end of April.
The board is set to finalize its decision regarding the transportation program at its April 15 meeting, in order to comply with the April 30 deadline for layoff notices, should it opt to eliminate the program.
Felix, the superintendent, said one option to cut driving time for parents may be to convert at least two campuses into K-8 schools, a move that would allow parents to avoid dropping their children off at multiple campuses.
Currently, Bonsall Elementary, Bonsall West Elementary and Vivian Banks Charter School all serve kindergarten through fifth grade, while Sullivan Middle School serves grades six through eight.
The idea drew mixed reactions from members of the school board, who asked Felix to return to the next board meeting with more information about the process and consequences of converting schools to the K-8 model.
Riddle pointed out that the district's school bus fleet is aging, and that keeping it active would require buying new school buses.
"Transportation loses about $400,000 a year for this district," Riddle said, adding that 16 other school districts in the county are also looking into eliminating school buses. "Every year, the cost of transportation goes up exponentially -- gas, maintenance, across the board. And every year, the state does not raise the amount of money they give us (for transportation).
"There's no perfect answer to cutting $1 million out of the budget," he added. "None of these decisions are made lightly."
But many parents did not seem satisfied.
Aaron Hultin, a father of four, said he and his wife calculated the distance they would have to drive every day to take their children to their respective schools at almost 90 miles.
Hultin suggested to the board that parents who want to continue using school buses may be able to pay a per-student fee to continue the service, an idea that other parents have floated at previous meetings.
"I have no issue writing a check to make sure that the busing stays," he said. "We're a small school district with a huge number of miles that we cover. For anybody, it's going to be a long trip twice a day."
Riddle said it would cost parents at least $1,400 per student to keep the school buses in such a pay-as-you-go system.
Hoggan, the mother who spoke early in the meeting, said that it's no consolation that teachers' jobs are being preserved when eight bus drivers may be laid off.
"If you do elect to eliminate buses, I strongly recommend that you decide how much (money) you need to set aside for litigation," Hoggan said. "The first student who is injured while walking or riding a bike to school, count on a lawsuit."
-- Contact staff writer Tom Pfingsten at (760) 740-3516 or tpfingsten@nctimes.com.
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Scotte wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:22 AM:How does Hutlin figure the cost of $1400 per student with a "pay-as-you-go" program, when Fallbrook Hign School is able to charge a reasonable rate for bus service? The already problematic traffic problems are going to be much worse, resulting in a further drop in Bonsall property values. Lower values will drive property tax revenue lower, which will lead to more (future) school budget cuts!
upset parent wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:54 AM:I believe cuts should be made evenly across the board! Why tackle a department in its entirety? How come they don't just lay off a select amount of people in various departments instead of eliminating a whole department, especially one like transportation!! And you want ADA to go up!? This whole board is just a joke!
Bonsall parent wrote on Mar 19, 2008 2:56 PM:Parents should start figuring out how to get their children to and from school. Carpooling will help alleviate some traffic. Families who live far away from the Bonsall schools should look into RAI school out of Rainbow which schools children from a web-based virtual classroom at home. Traffic is bad now, just wait until you have 300 more cars lined up on the one lane roads!
Reardon wrote on Mar 19, 2008 4:54 PM:The law requires a free education -- not free transportation. Education is for children, transportation is to relieve parents of a time-consuming and expensive responsibility. There is no requirement for tax support of the parents of children. Somehow, parents manage to get their little ones to Little League, Youth Soccer, Pop Warner, music lessons, etc. without tax support.
upset parent 2 wrote on Mar 19, 2008 5:55 PM:upset parent sumed it up. the fair thing i agree would of been to make cuts evenly thru out the distrit ( starting at the top like most other schools have done )this board did not look long and hard, otherwise they would not of made such a decision. let us pay. where in the world did that worthless business manager come up with $1400 per student, that is ridiculous. i too agree with the last statement with upset parent, this whole board is a joke. it is time in the november elections to get a fresh look on this board. this board does not respond to the needs of the people that they are elected to serve.
Keep cuts away from the classroom! wrote on Mar 19, 2008 5:55 PM:I'm sure that not all students are transported in your district. If say, only 40% of the kids take your busses, why not cut there and keep it away from the classroom? Also, kids that get free & reduced lunches also qualify for free or reduced bussing. That means that not everyone pays for the service. Unfortunately, so many districts are looking at doing away with transportation because we all have the same problems... It's a drain on the General Fund.
HISPANIC PARENT wrote on Mar 19, 2008 6:06 PM:I AM VERY UPSET. MANY HISPANIC PARENTS TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO ONE TO TRANSLATE. THE BOARD USED A TECHNICALITY TO SILENCE THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK. I FIND THIS UNKIND AND UNCARING. IN AN EXPENSIVE FACILITY LIKE THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHY ISN'T THERE A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM FOR THE SPEAKERS TO USE? WHY? BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY NOR DO THEY CARE ABOUT OUR CONCERNS. DO WE REALLY WANT THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE SERVING? THEY ARE NOT FOR THE PARENTS NOR THE CHILDREN. ARE WE AS PARENTS JUST GOING TO SIT BACK AND LET THIS HAPPEN? OR ARE WE GOING TO BACK EACH OTHER FOR WHAT IS SAFE FOR OUR KIDS? I SAY EVERYONE WHO IS CONCERNED SPREAD THE WORD TO BE AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 15TH.
Ask wrote on Mar 19, 2008 6:09 PM:Its time to tighten the belts and cut the welfare.
If you cant provide transportation for your kids, maybe you should not have had them.
School buses are not a right.
MADINBONSALL wrote on Mar 19, 2008 6:11 PM:CHEERS TO DR. HOGGAN. YOU WERE OUTSTANDING. YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. I AS A PARENT WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD IN NOVEMBER.
Bonsall mom wrote on Mar 19, 2008 6:17 PM:typical of this school board. They wait until it's too late for other options (like laying off teachers) to make this something that has to happen. Is the school board giving up their benefits (their stipend for each meeting and health insurance provided by the District) like the Fallbrook High board is doing? Just the overages on the new building for the elementary school could have paid for new busses several times over. Getting kids to school is obviously NOT a priority for the board. Maybe it's just a subtle way to reduce class sizes? I hope they are ready to take on the additional before and after school care that will need to happen because parents must leave for work way before school officially opens.......
To hispanic parent wrote on Mar 19, 2008 10:26 PM:If those parents can take time out of their schedules for a meeting then they should take time out to learn english. Your children learn in english so how do you help them with their schoolwork if you cant even read it? A translator for a school meeting is uncalled for. If it was really that important to you and you wanted to be that involved in your childrens education you would know english. Im glad that the school board is not babying the parents who only know spanish.
Sick of an embarrassing board! wrote on Mar 20, 2008 10:42 PM:Our school district officials are such an embarrassment! Lets take a look into the pockets of the superintendent and his assistant! Our teachers assistants are getting laid off but what about the superintendents assistant??? What about the kick backs that our members gets just for serving on the board?! Ever think of cutting those out? Not many people know that board members get free health insurance and monthly stipends. Our district has become a joke! Our community needs to wake up and smell the stink that has taken over! As for the buses, the entire community needs to attend the next meeting, give them an idea of what a crowded parking lot will be like each day when parents are trying to drop off/pick up their children, PEOPLE need to come early and stay late, let the board see what it will feel like not being able to get in to park, nor be able to get out of the parking lot on time! It will be complete chaos!
Backroom political crap! wrote on Mar 20, 2008 10:52 PM:I agree with both upset parent1&2, This board is such a joke, when the elections come up in Novemeber re-electing these idiots would be just as bad as someone voting in a drunk to run the PTA!
Busing Parent wrote on Mar 21, 2008 7:12 AM:I am a working parent who relys on the bus to get my child to and from school. What has happened to our school? Folks, look who is running the school, is this who we want to continue to run it? I say no. They talk about a budget committee, was this committee even allowed to come up with ways to save money or was this committee just a smoke screen? I agree 100 0/0 with sick of this embarrassing board and backroom political crap. If busing is allowed to go away i will pull my children out of this school. I work too far away to worry if my children have been killed or kidnapped trying to get back and forth to school on their own. Is this the kind of school board we want serving our district? We need to stand up and say NO. Lets start with this coming elections in NOVEMBER, two seats will be available, we as parents can make this happen, our childrens futures are at stake with this board. WE WANT A CHANGE.
Cathy G. wrote on Mar 21, 2008 10:32 AM:I didn't attend the meeting--I was busy driving my kids to ballet--but two potential solutions come to mind. Would it work to have a limited bus service in which parents could drive or carpool their children to a few designated areas, thus relieving the congestion at the school? Another idea, instead of purchasing large buses to replace the existing ones, what if we used smaller buses instead and had them travel less? I don't know if these ideas might be useful, but I do know that in all of the years I have been in the Bonsall school district, I have not seen issues addressed without a dissolution into blaming and name calling and yet, when I meet people on campus, each one has good intentions and an avid interest in making the school a better place. Please stop throwing stones--it's not helping.
Mom wrote on Mar 21, 2008 7:29 PM:I agree with upset parent. Why did they not look at spreading the layoffs throughout the district? Now as a result you ( the board ) have put us parents in this position, you are here to serve the students and what is best for them ( safety,for one ). A much better decision certainly could of been made.
Need A Change wrote on Mar 22, 2008 6:40 AM:Bottom line? Our kids are just dollar signs to this school board. Safety is not their concern, if it were, they would of made a different decision.I agree with busing parent, it is time for a change with this board. Let's make that happen this NOVEMBER.
Ashamed In Bonsall wrote on Mar 24, 2008 1:06 PM:MADINBONSALL says it all. We need community members like Dr. Hoggan to be on this Bonsall Board. It is clear that the Board doesn't care what the public thinks. How can they make a decision to eliminate transportation in rural Bonsall and not give layoff notices to teachers by the deadline just to protect the school district? What a financial liability the Board and management has put us all into.
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