School district officials are still telling parents to be patient about busing routes or the lack of them as the 2004 school year moves into the middle of September.
Parents in the Bunny Run area told Lake Orion School Board members on Sept. 8 they aren’t pleased their children have to walk to Blanche Sims Elementary School.
According to Leslie Shields, the only sidewalk in the area is on Miller Road and they’re not shoveled much in the winter. Roads are also not maintained by the Road Commission for Oakland County.
‘They’ll (children) be walking through the snow,? she added.
Shields said parents are also worried because there are four registered sex offenders in Bunny Run and five more within a mile of the area.
She’s also noticed the buses that do travel around Bunny Run are not full and could handle picking up more students.
Parents told board members their children were bused to Blanche Sims last year.
LO School Superintendent Dr. Craig Younkman said bus routes in Bunny Run are ‘still an open issue with us.?
‘The first week of school buses are traditionally empty. Kids are taken to school,? he added.
Another parent, Kyle Dykman, whose son does ride a bus, said she has a safety issue with the buses. ‘It’s crowded with three (to a seat),? she said. ‘What happens when they put on winter clothes?
‘I’ve heard there are children sitting in aisles. My son is at the last stop and there’s no room to sit.?
Dr. Younkman said if there are overcrowded buses, that would also be looked at. ‘We can’t guarantee anything, but we’ll look at it.?
According to Younkman, it’s been ‘a real balancing act? trying to smooth out the problems with the new hub and shuttle busing program.
‘If there’s any traffic delays, it trickles down,? said.
Younkman also announced at the board meeting that this year’s unofficial student population count was 7,863. Last year’s was 7,562.