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REGION: Fewer school buses mean more cars
Four districts try to save money on transportation
By COLLEEN MENSCHING - Staff Writer | ∞
NORTH COUNTY ---- The school year is revving up with fewer yellow buses and more orange cones at many North County campuses this week.
With bus services cut to save money in four school districts, administrators have anticipated an influx of cars and pedestrians this year ---- and safety issues that might come with them.
In San Marcos, the city adjusted traffic signals to allow longer passing times for pedestrians at some school crosswalks, and the California Highway Patrol has posted portable signs reminding drivers of how fast they're going, said Kathy Tanner, director of facilities and planning for the San Marcos Unified School District.
In April, the San Marcos district voted to trim about $1.2 million from its $141 million budget by eliminating the buses that served about 2,700 students each day during the last school year.
Poway Unified, Oceanside Unified and Bonsall Union school districts also voted to reduce bus service this school year as a way to reduce costs.
"We've probably put another thousand cars on the road throughout the district," said Steve Rogers, assistant director of transportation services for Poway Unified, which cut service to approximately 1,000 students.
In an attempt to keep traffic smooth this fall, the district started preparing parents for the changes during the last school year, Rogers said. With school back in session, sawhorses and temporary signs have helped keep drivers and walkers where they belong, he said.
The cutbacks implemented by Poway Unified, which only runs buses on routes that serve at least 50 paying round-trip students, made it possible to keep 4,000 students on bus lines despite high gas prices and the state's budget crisis, Rogers said.
Buses, he said, are still the safest way to get kids to and from school.
"More than half of it is the trained professional behind the wheel," Rogers said. "Also, the buses are gigantic compared to the other vehicles on the road. They have great visibility, and they're built like a Sherman tank."
All the same, inconveniencing parents has been more of a problem than safety thus far, Rogers said.
Along the same lines, sheriff's Sgt. Cliston Hensley, head of the San Marcos traffic division, said Wednesday that the city's Sheriff's Station hasn't been inundated with fender benders near campuses.
But deputies did help with traffic control at Knob Hill Elementary School this week, he said
"That's not unusual," Hensley said. "Every year we kind of have to put out fires at schools until everybody gets disciplined and gets used to how traffic should flow."
Perhaps the biggest obstacle has been road construction on Rancho Santa Fe Road, which was complicating morning and afternoon commutes even before the start of the school year, he said.
"Coupled with no busing, that just compounds it," he said. "We are afraid of road rage. We're trying to make everybody aware ---- be patient. Realize you're not going to get anywhere fast for a couple of hours during the school day."
Contact staff writer Colleen Mensching at (760) 739-6675 or cmensching@nctimes.com.
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go early wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:26 PM:and start your day nicely. It's a huge difference even 10 minutes makes in the traffic.
JimRT wrote on Sep 4, 2008 5:49 AM:To "go early". Are we talking about getting kids up and ready to go to school? Great idea if you can do it. It seems the older they get the more they learn to enjoy sleeping; go figure.
North County Res wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:24 AM:the effect of trickle down economics in action....can we save ourselves from ourselves???
Dont worry be happy wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:53 AM:the liberal democrats want to tax Californians more so soon we shall have the buses back.
concerned mom wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:12 AM:No buses means more children are walking to and from school - and the can be unpredictable- so drivers must be careful near schools. Drive slowly and keep alert for young people!
To Concerned Mom wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:52 AM:at least we know there is no unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road!
response to Jim RT wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:29 AM:well if I can get my kid to get up and she's 13...it can be done:) There's the weekend for sleeping in. Not to mention they only attend school 180 days a year! When I was a kid- we had to get up early to WALK ourselves to school. Plus once they grow up, they have to get up to go to work . Might as well get used to it, you know?
seriously wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:33 AM:When I talk to friends in other states, they simply can't believe we have to drive our kids in or they have to walk to school. They all say the same thing..."We have buses here!! Why doesn't Calif? " umm it would take to long to explain and I don't want to pay the long distance lol.
Vista Watchdog wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:49 AM:CA spends Billions on mass-transit that is often less than 1/2 filled to capacity. Yet, the most successful mass-transit system around it underfuned: School Busses! The Liberal Left talks about Carbon Footprints, but do they realize just how much smaller the Carbon Footprint per child would be if the majority were riding school busses instead of each one being driven to school in an individual car?
Wake Up People! Take some of the State Transportation funds and fully fund the school busses. Get those cars off the roads, save fuel, save money, and keep our kids safe by not having all the congestion around our schools
Herb wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:25 AM:I ask, what did they do with the money for the school buses? They don't have it because they spent it, and then the second step in the process is to cry poor mouth. The third step is to start yelling that they need more money - and that will show up on November ballot. They had best have their resumes in order.
Democrats in wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:51 AM:Sacramento hold your course! Demand more taxes from Californians, don't let the republicans push you around!
Umm.. wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:20 AM:Poor little babies..
I walked to school for the 2nd and 3rd grade, maybe even part of the first. About a mile and a half. It wasn't much.
Came to California in the 7th grade and it was 2-3 miles by bike over these huge dirt piles. OMG what a shocker those were.. there was not a sea of cars in the front of the school. Less than a quarter were dropped off. What didn't use a bus, walked or used a bike. What a bunch of babies.
Concerned wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:40 AM:Everytime a problem arises, the usual band of less thoughtful and more mouth begin the process of blaming everything on the enemy of this country - the devil liberals. The problem is that there is not enough money being paid by homeowners to support their local school districts needs. If you would rather not discuss that and blame it all on undocumented children, then go to George Bush and the FEDS and demand repayment for not protecting our borders. Seems that this is either a pay more tax or get on our very popular Republican President to reimburse the districts issue more than anything else. I feel for those parents with young children. Life is already difficult enough without throwing another wrench into their morning schedules. Unfortunately, this country has to learn how to be poor again, beause we have spent all that we had, all we could borrow and all we would print. There is nothing left...Tks..
to dont worry be happy wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:48 AM:I hope you are kidding? More tax dollars just mean more for the Unions. These programs that get cut will never come back. Any new money that the Schools get will go to the employee unions for raises and better and more expensive befits.
to Democrats in wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:01 PM:Please don’t be foolish or at least don’t assume we are. More taxes will not solve the problem. We are in this situation because during the “good years” with ample funding the Union took every dime and put none aside for reserves (savings). Now they still want to get a 9% raise every year even in difficult times and are willing to let bussing and other programs go to get it. If the state raises taxes none of that new tax money will make in the classroom or to bring back bussing and other lost programs. It will go to the raises and generous benefits for the few employees that are still able to keep their jobs. Raising taxes is just another attempt at Liberal Democrats picking the pockets of the tax the payers in California. If the teacher where so great in this state then why are the academic results so far down at the bottom of the list compared to other States?
Shame on you for putting the unions before your and my kids!
Democrats in wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:09 PM:Please don’t be foolish or at least don’t assume we are. More taxes will not solve the problem. We are in this situation because during the “good years” with ample funding the Union took every dime and put none aside for reserves (savings). Now they still want to get a 9% raise every year even in difficult times and are willing to let bussing and other programs go to get it. If the state raises taxes none of that new tax money will make in the classroom or to bring back bussing and other lost programs. It will go to the raises and generous benefits for the few employees that are still able to keep their jobs. Raising taxes is just another attempt at Liberal Democrats picking the pockets of the tax the payers in California. If the teacher where so great in this state then why are the academic results so far down at the bottom of the list compared to other States?
Shame on you for putting the unions before you and my kids!
to concerned wrote on Sep 4, 2008 2:25 PM:I guarantee you that if I was not mandated to use those property tax dollars for public school and was able to receive a "voucher" in the same amount and then put my kids in Private School they would do just fine! Let the parents choose how those dollars are spent and I promise you that the quality of education in this state will sky rocket! The per pupil funds on average nearly $8,000 per student for public schools in California. Private Schools (in San Diego) far out perform public Schools across the board. I have friends that only pay about $500 per month per student (or $6,000 per year) for private School.
If we all end up paying more taxes (at least those of us who actually pay our taxes) the only benefactors will be better salaries and benefits for the district employees with no accountability and worse academic results from the students.
If you look at the numbers there is clearly nearly $2000 per year per student unexplainably wasted? Those same funds ($8,000) per pupil per year are also the same amount that Charter Schools receive and you don’t hear them complaining. The difference is simple, neither have to deal with Unions, hmm?
Make Schools and teacher accountable and nobody will complain about paying them more! If there are no checks and balance in the system its just more good money after bad!
Yet more wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:37 AM:Yet ANOTHER service denied the kids. It seems that public education is just becoming an inconvenient but required evil. I’m waiting for the day when they close the schools down and send the lessons on DVD and tout it as “quality education.” The bottom line is that spending over the last four years has increased by 40%. Does anyone feel like they’re 40% more in services? I’m tired of the PC. Be here legally out get out. The benefits of illegal immigration are now turning into liabilities. As for teacher’s it’s an important job but it’s time to join the rest of America and deal with job insecurity and contributing to your benefits.
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