By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Challenges presented by COVID-19 have exacerbated an already tough transportation situation in Buhler USD 313.
"Our square mileage of our district is large," USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said. "We have like 45 routes that we run on a daily basis. We started the year, I believe, with 32 drivers. We really need 38 minimum to make it work and we started 6 short."
There have been times this year when the district has been down 8-10 bus drivers.
"Legally, we are required to bus over two and a half miles from the attendance center," Couchman said. "We are not required by law to bus under two and a half. Now, it has always been my priority and a priority of our district and really the culture of Buhler USD 313 to bus anyone."
With that in mind, the district took a week off this week, the week after Thanksgiving, from transporting students that live closer than the two and a half mile requirement at two attendance centers, Union Valley Elementary and Plum Creek Elementary. It's important to note that Union Valley has been on flex due to COVID-19 among its staff during this period, as well.
"We've put out a survey," Couchman said. "I'm trying to get who absolutely has to have that to get their kids to school, because there are so many unintended consequences of not bussing under two and a half miles. It's amazing, you don't even think of them all when you're doing it, but we did think of some. Pick up and drop off lines have gotten very long and complicated and large. There's more of a need for an after school program now. At a time when we're trying to get kids to social distance, adding more kids to that, trying not to mix cohorts, makes it very complicated."
The survey went to Plum Creek and Union Valley families only, because those schools are where route changes are being planned.