POTTSTOWN PA – Parents of elementary-age children in the Pottsgrove School District are expected today (Wednesday, April 11, 2012) to get their first look at what many say they fear most in its impending move to grade-level education centers: the length – in miles and time – of bus rides to and from school buildings.

Bus route lengths are sure to be scrutinized

What were described Tuesday night (April 10) by Superintendent Dr. Bradley Landis as “preliminary bus routes based on this year’s enrollment,” and set for implementation next year under redistricting plans, are scheduled to be publicly released this morning on Pottsgrove’s website, here. A time for their publication was not announced.

A large group of parents has been angered for months by the Board of School Directors’ consideration and then approval of plans to change attendance at West Pottsgrove, Ringing Rocks, and Lower Pottsgrove elementary schools. All currently accept students in grades K-5; next year, West and Ringing will accommodate only grades K-2, and Lower only grades 3-5.

The change requires more, and in a few cases, longer busing.

Parents object overall to disruption they worry their children will suffer in having to become accustomed to new teachers, new surroundings, and new classmates. They have been particularly critical of busing matters, claiming their kids could spend 90 or more minutes daily doing little except watching traffic pass while the buses they ride move back and forth from school.

Landis, during Tuesday’s board meeting at Ringing, said Business Administrator David Nester had been working closely with busing contractor CMD Services Inc., Farmington Avenue, Pottstown PA, to try and minimize the length of the proposed routes. They remain works-in-progress, Landis cautioned, because enrollment changes during the summer likely will require modifications.

“We’ll make adjustments as we move forward,” Landis said, but acknowledged the route lists to be issued represented a “core” that will probably vary little.

The bus routes may be hot topics as the district begins a second set of what it labeled as “community connection meetings” to hear from the public about the redistricting process. The first round of those talks ended just before the district’s spring break. The next are scheduled for April 18 at West, April 19 at Ringing, and April 25 at Lower.

Related (to Pottsgrove School District redistricting):

• Parents Anxiously Await Pottsgrove Bus Route Revisions
• Pottsgrove Redistricted Employee Assignments Due Today
• At West Pottsgrove, Parents Worry About Kids’ Future
• Last Of Pottsgrove’s Initial ‘Connection’ Meetings Tonight
• Pottsgrove’s First Transition Meeting Tonight at Ringing
• Decisions Loom Friday For ‘Grove Redistricted Teachers
• ‘Grove Plans ‘Connection Meetings’ To Map Transition
• Relief, As Pottsgrove Chooses Preferred Redistrict Line
• Pottsgrove Future May Hinge On Tests That Start Today
• PTO Opens Friday Fun Night To ‘Redistricted’ Newcomers
• Police Presence At ‘Grove Labeled A ‘Misunderstanding’
• Pottsgrove Board OKs Ed Centers, Full-Day Kindergarten
• On Facebook, Via Cells, First The News Then A Firestorm
• Attention-Getter: Philly TV Crew Spends Its Day In ‘Grove
• Get A Seat Early For Tonight’s Pottsgrove Board Meeting
• Bright Yellow Signs Flag Pottsgrove Centers’ Opposition
• The Case Against Centers in the Pottsgrove School District
• Pottsgrove Ed Centers’ Opponents Launch Petition Drive
• Pottsgrove Principals Distribute Redistrict Info Letters
• Debate Aside, Pottsgrove K-Classes Sign-Up Starts
• Pottsgrove’s Case For Education Centers, Take Two
• Pottsgrove Says It Will Work To Improve Public Notice
• Pottsgrove Centers’ Talks Subdued; Decision Delayed
• Notebook Worthy: Pottsgrove, The Master Of Brevity
• It’s Official: ‘Grove Meeting Moved To High School
• Pottsgrove’s Case For Ed Centers: A Nutshell View
• In ‘Horse Race’ Of Opinions, Pottsgrove Serves As Track
• ‘Grove Residents Want Proof Ed Centers Will Succeed
• ‘The Blues’ May Await Pottsgrove’s School Board Tonight
• Both Sides In Pottsgrove Redistricting Head To Facebook
• Pottsgrove Crowd Vocal In Opposing Educational Centers
• Advocate: Pottsgrove Centers ‘Best Access’ To Resources
• Debate Over Pottsgrove Redistricting Gets Started Tuesday
• No Matter What Plan Pottsgrove Adopts, Buses Ready
• Redistricting Info ‘Slanted,’ Pottsgrove Volunteers Charge
• Pottsgrove Redistrict Discussions Quietly Move Ahead
• In Pottsgrove, Redistricting Study Work Gets Started
• Pottsgrove Sets Dates For Redistrict Committee Work
• As Expected, Interest A’Plenty In Pottsgrove Redistricting
• Landis Calls For Pottsgrove Redistricting Volunteers
• Touchy Pottsgrove Redistricting Now Being Considered

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ April 10 meeting):

• Parents Anxiously Await Pottsgrove Bus Route Revisions
• New Pottsgrove Policies Urge Worker Care In Comments

Photo from Google Images