KISD STUDENTS LOSE BUS SERVICE:
[At a school board meeting at the end of the school year, when no one much was paying attention, the superintendent, Alton Frailey, orchestrated the removal of bus routes for 6,600 students which is 21% of the students who need to use the bus to get to school! As this thread of articles reveals, Mr. Frailey had apparently overspent, and found himself and the school district in dire straits regarding funding. This removal of traditional service to Katy families and their children was his solution. His decision caused the defeat of the bond issue for the stadium. In removing this service Mr. Frailey not only put the lives of children at risk because they have to walk to school in the street in most areas of Katy, but he also lowered the value of all homes that no longer have bus service provided to students. Unfortunately that lowered value has never been reflected in the Appraisal District's evaluations for taxing purposes. That is an unfair situation and by-product of Mr. Frailey (and his compliant Board). In order to cover up the malfeasance, a purported lack of school bus drivers was blamed. Ironically, other school districts seem not to have trouble finding drivers, nor does KISD whenever a new school opens that requires more bus drivers!]
Shortage of bus drivers leads to route changes
By Helen Eriksen
May 22, 2012
Thousands of Katy schoolchildren used to riding the school bus may have to find another way to get to school starting in August because the transportation department has been challenged in having enough drivers.
Under a new transportation plan, Katy elementary students who live less than a half-mile from school will not be able to ride the bus. Junior high and high school students will have to live more than one mile from the campus to receive bus service.
The new bus policies approved Monday by trustees will save the district more than $4 million.
Transportation services are now available to students living beyond three tenths of a mile, said Scooter McMeans, assistant superintendent for support services, who added there will be exceptions for areas with hazardous walking conditions as well as special needs bus routes.
As a result of the new transportation plan, McMeans said, "It is expected that approximately 52 bus routes will be eliminated.
"This will affect around 6,600 students or about 21 percent of the 32,000 students who currently ride our buses every day."
These measures will reduce operating expenses by about $300,000 a year and in addition another $113,000 will be saved by the decreased need for drivers, McMeans said. Also, expenditures of $3.5 million in bond funds allocated for bus replacement could be avoided with the lower demand, he said.
McMeans said it has been difficult to find drivers to meet the demands of bus routes and other employees in the transportation department have taken up the slack to cover as many as 46 daily runs. To operate effectively and address the shortages, McMeans said the district would set up a relief driver pool using existing staff.
The Transportation Department will begin building bus routes in June and have specific route information for parents in August.
Information on 2012-13 bus route changes can be found on the website at www.katyisd.org.
A new slate of board officers was selected during the May 21 meeting.
Rebecca Fox, who was elected in 2004, is the new president while Joe Adams, who has served since 1989, is vice-president. Henry Dibrell, elected in 2011, is the secretary while newly sworn-in members Bryan Michalsky and Charles Griffin will serve as treasurer and sergeant-at-arms respectively.
There were emotional farewells for retiring 15-year trustee Robert Shaw, who did not run for re-election following recovery from brain surgery. Neal Howard, who lost his bid for re-election to Michalsky, thanked his family and the community for allowing him to serve three years.