PASSING RULES WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING:
In May of 2012 at the end of the school year when parents and citizens were obviously involved with other matters--like vacations (!) the School Board passed a critical piece of Local Board Policy. They slipped it under the radar by posting in on the agendas in this manner:
"Consider Board Approval of the Change in Transportation Services."
No discussion, no way to know what they were planning to do, no advanced warning to the community, no transparency, no effort to consider the consequences, they just passed it.
Most parents did not even know about it until school was about to start in the fall.
Twenty percent of the 64,249 students that year meant that 12,849 of them had their lives disrupted on the first day of school!
Think about that! Think about the callousness of a school superintendent who would do such a thing to children!
Think about what a sneaky way he used to achieve his goal.
As Dr. Proctor, a member of the Board, said at the time, "This is a supply and demand issue. Pay the bus drivers more money."
The Board and the Superintendent used the excuse that Eagle Ford was drawing off drivers, and so there weren't enough to fill the positions that were needed.
I personally never believed that excuse. No other school district around us cut service citing that reason. If any districts in the Houston area DID cut service, it was explained as a money saving measure.
Of course, KISD doesn't need to save money because its taxpayers have deep pockets and will do anything for public schools in the way of funding (taxes and bonds) as long as they think their children are getting a great education.
Therein lies the problem. The school district is quite adept at fooling KISD patrons. Parents mindlessly buy into propaganda that suggests their children are getting a fine education. It doesn't matter what facts come their way, as far as they are concerned their children are just fine.
I guess the best statistic is the one that says 69% of the adults who live in the Cinco Ranch have a Bachelor's degree, but only 44% of their children will be able to graduate from a four year college within six years! This would be ANY four year college. And if one cannot graduate in six years, his chances for doing so go down astronomically! That stat does not speak well of the education students are getting in KISD.
For citizens of KISD who do not have children in the public schools but who live within the area that lost bus service, the value of their homes decreased considerably. No one with children wants to buy a house without school bus service, especially when all our homes are built without sidewalks and children must walk in the street!
There was NO GOOD REASON for the District to stop busing 21% of the students IN 2012.
1. Parents React: Liz Brogan Johnson
2. Helen Eriksen Article in 2008 Warned of Cuts
3. Katy ISD Considers Options to Cut Expenses
4. KISD Looks Again at Cutting Buses
5. KISD Students Lose Bus Service