There's a big change in Ottumwa schools this year: transportation.Until this school year, all 5,000 or so students in the district could get a ride to and from school.This year, things are different for people living within a mile of schools after a panel reviewed some of the busing issues coming up, such as overcrowding or long rides.“We’d like to eliminate overcrowding on our buses, and we’d like to eliminate route times. We had students that maybe were en route too long for too long. So the changes we were making were geared toward that,” said Superintendent Mike McCrory, who is starting his fifth year leading the schools.He was previously a principal in the district about 20 years ago. He recalls transportation being open to anyone, no matter the distance they lived from school. State law sets standards for transportation. Districts are required to provide transportation for elementary students who live two miles or more from a school. In high school, students who live three miles or more from a school must have access to transportation. This school year, Ottumwa’s policy is closer to state law. Elementary students who live a mile or less from school will not get a bus. Secondary students who live less than two miles away from their school will not get a bus.There are some exceptions for students in need of accommodations.The switch created some chaos on the first day of school. On Monday night, parents in the Wapello County district shared their frustration at the school board meeting.“What happened Friday was unacceptable and preventable,” said one parent.Another said she had concerns about safety. “I’m not agreeable with young children being required to walk to school just because they are within a one-mile distance,” the parent said.McGrory said the school pickup change did not go well on the first day.“We know we need to do better, and we will do better,” McGrory said. On Thursday, he told KCCI that school pickup improved this week.“As a superintendent, you kind of gauge by how many phone calls do you get, and I haven't had hardly any phone calls this week. So that's a good sign to me,” he said.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI
OTTUMWA, Iowa —
There's a big change in Ottumwa schools this year: transportation.
Until this school year, all 5,000 or so students in the district could get a ride to and from school.
Advertisem*nt
This year, things are different for people living within a mile of schools after a panel reviewed some of the busing issues coming up, such as overcrowding or long rides.
“We’d like to eliminate overcrowding on our buses, and we’d like to eliminate route times. We had students that maybe were en route too long for too long. So the changes we were making were geared toward that,” said Superintendent Mike McCrory, who is starting his fifth year leading the schools.
He was previously a principal in the district about 20 years ago. He recalls transportation being open to anyone, no matter the distance they lived from school.
State law sets standards for transportation. Districts are required to provide transportation for elementary students who live two miles or more from a school. In high school, students who live three miles or more from a school must have access to transportation.
This school year, Ottumwa’s policy is closer to state law. Elementary students who live a mile or less from school will not get a bus. Secondary students who live less than two miles away from their school will not get a bus.
There are some exceptions for students in need of accommodations.
The switch created some chaos on the first day of school. On Monday night, parents in the Wapello County district shared their frustration at the school board meeting.
“What happened Friday was unacceptable and preventable,” said one parent.
Another said she had concerns about safety.
“I’m not agreeable with young children being required to walk to school just because they are within a one-mile distance,” the parent said.
McGrory said the school pickup change did not go well on the first day.
“We know we need to do better, and we will do better,” McGrory said.
On Thursday, he told KCCI that school pickup improved this week.
“As a superintendent, you kind of gauge by how many phone calls do you get, and I haven't had hardly any phone calls this week. So that's a good sign to me,” he said.
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
Get the latest headlines from KCCI
