Are School Buses Becoming Obsolete?
by Nancy Wood
1/14/10

Seven school buses serve the Charlotte Central School, named for seven colors of the rainbow. At the CCS School Board meeting on January 5, School Director Lynn Jaunich raised the question of eliminating one of the routes because “only 50% of students ride the bus.” She added that, “On one route only 20% of eligible students ride.” Recently Hinesburg eliminated a bus as a cost saving measure.

The School Board is debating how to cut the budget that will be voted on in March. Transportation services provided by Bet-Cha Transit Inc. are costing $239,000 during the current year, on average $507 per student. In a report to the School Board dated November 19, 2009, School Principal Sandra Jump recommended a formal survey of parents and students to determine why so many are not using the bus. Reasons given on an informal basis have included parents’ work schedules, concern about children waiting for the bus alone, and the length of time spent on the bus.

Teacher Lynn Cluff suggested “group stops” where parents could bring their children to be picked up by an express bus that would go directly to the school. Parent and pediatrician Lori Racha said, “I am adamant about riding the bus” because of “concerns about global warming.” In her report Sandy Jump said, “Bus ridership has the potential to play an important part in how our students look at our school’s theme of sustainability.”

Ridership data was gathered during the week of September 28 through October 2, 2009. The “blue” route showed the highest usage with 72% of eligible students riding in the morning and 76% in the afternoon. The “yellow” route had the fewest riders, with only 22% in the morning and 35% in the afternoon. Overall ridership during that week averaged 44% in the morning and 55% in the afternoon. The noon buses that bring home kindergarten students in the fall averaged 48% of eligible riders. The longest ride for the first student picked up in the morning is 55 minutes on the “green” bus, and the shortest is 40 minutes on the “orange” bus.