News Summary
The Jerome School District faced major bus transportation challenges leading to the cancellation of classes for two days. With the number of bus riders soaring from 950 to 1,300, many students were left stranded, causing frustration among parents. To manage the situation, only registered students with confirmed bus routes will be allowed on buses. The district is also revising its walking zone policy and enhancing communication with parents to ensure reliable transportation as they address previously reported issues.
Jerome, ID – Classes at the Jerome School District were canceled for two days last week, on August 21 and 22, due to significant bus transportation issues that disrupted the start of the school year. Students finally returned to classes on Monday, August 25, after school officials worked to resolve the complications that arose during the first week.
The transportation problems stemmed from a revamped routing system designed to accommodate an increase in the number of bus riders, which jumped from 950 to 1,300 students. This sudden rise resulted in chaos, as students found themselves stranded at school until after 6:30 p.m., several hours after the school day had officially ended. Reports surfaced that parents were frustrated with the situation, labeling it an “absolute fiasco.” Many opted to drive their children to school instead of using the bus service, leading to long lines of cars outside the schools.
Moving forward, starting the week of August 25, only registered students with confirmed bus routes will be allowed to board the buses. Students without confirmed transportation will remain at school until their parents can arrive to pick them up. Specific issues regarding eligibility have already surfaced; one parent reported that their third-grader, despite being registered, was denied bus service due to inconsistencies in the routing system.
The district has not provided a clear explanation for the sudden changes regarding bus eligibility and routes. In an effort to rectify the situation and improve communication, school officials are reaching out to parents to confirm their addresses and ridership details to enhance accuracy in the bus routing system. A community meeting to address ongoing transportation issues is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, at 6 p.m. at the district office.
During the upcoming week, the school district will not be adding any new riders while they focus on establishing routines for existing students. This approach aims to simplify the logistics surrounding bus transportation until the new system stabilizes.
The Jerome School District has implemented a new walking zone policy around the schools, set at half a mile. There are exceptions for major road crossings, particularly near Jerome High School, where the distance extends to a mile. This policy change is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on the bus routes and encourage students living within a manageable distance to consider walking to school.
To accommodate the influx of parents driving their children, several schools have made adjustments to their pick-up and drop-off patterns. This includes establishing designated zones and traffic lane alterations to ensure a smoother flow of vehicles during morning and afternoon hours. Horizon Elementary School has specifically requested that parents utilize the designated drop-off and wait line appropriately and park their vehicles in designated areas if they need to leave their cars.
For those seeking more information on the updated bus routes and stops, these details are now available on the Jerome School District’s website. Officials are working diligently to ensure that all students have reliable transportation options moving forward while addressing the confusion that arose at the beginning of the school year.
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Additional Resources
- KIVI TV: Jerome Students Return to Classes
- Wikipedia: School Transportation
- KMVT: School District Addresses Transportation Issues
- Google Search: Jerome School District Transportation Issues
- Magic Valley: Jerome School District Transportation Update
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School
- KTVB: Jerome School District Cancels Classes Due to Bus Issues
- Google News: Jerome Idaho School Issues
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