Harlan Kirgan
School bus schedules will remain unchanged as the Aug. 9 first day of school nears, but St. Landry Parish School Board members decided to review school bus driver route selection.
In a special meeting Tuesday, Board members heard complaints from a few parents about the scheduling, but contract bus drivers took strong issue with the driver selection.
Last week, St. Landry Parish School Superintendent Patrick Jenkins announced a new bus schedule for the parish.
Contract bus driver Pat Matt, of Port Barre, said her route is cut by more than half.
Citing her expenses in owning a bus, Matt said, “We feel like we’ve had the rugs pulled out from under and it hurts.”
Jenkins said the school district spends $8 million to $9 million a year on transportation. The new schedule and routes are to save the district about $100,000 a year, he said.
About 10,000 out of 13,500 students are transported by school bus, he said.
Neither Jenkins nor transportation supervisor Milton Batiste were able to say how much contract bus drivers are paid.
Jenkins did say base pay for bus drivers is in the $20,000 range.
Board President Randy Wagley, administrators and Board attorney Courtney Joiner are to meet on the bus driver issue before a special meeting Saturday scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Supplementary Resource Center, 1013 Creswell Lane, Opelousas.
Wagley said, “I have to say this and I hope I don’t offend anyone. I feel like my hands are tied. This needs some work, but we can’t work on it because it was done at the 11th hour and that needs to quit happening. We need to give information and exchange information in a timely manner so that everybody, including the taxpayers and the employees and the parents and Board members know what’s going on.”
Anthony Standberry, a Lawtell area Board member, said concessions need to be made to the owner-operator bus drivers.
Earlier this year First Solutions was hired to redo bus routes at cost of $60,000.
Jenkins said there are 30 to 40 contract bus drivers and about eight to nine are significantly affected by the change. Some contract drivers saw their mileage increase with change.
Mary Ellen Donatto, a Eunice area Board member, said if the changes followed the law, the attention now must be made on making compassionate revisions with the bus driver selection.
The new schedule is:
Students will begin arriving on campus at least 30 minutes prior to start times.
Perimeter High Schools: Beau Chene, North Central, Northwest, Port Barre High/ Middle
Drop off at 6:55 a.m. or at the discretion of the principal
Start time: 7:25 a.m, car rider: 2:43 p.m., bus riders: 2:50 p.m.
Perimeter Junior High Schools and Elementary Schools: Cankton Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Grand Coteau Elementary, Arnaudville Elementary, Leonville Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, Washington Elementary, Grand Prairie Elementary, Plaisance Elementary, Lawtell Elementary, Port Barre Elementary, and Krotz Springs Elementary
Drop off at 7:30 a.m. or at the discretion of the principal
Start time: 8 a.m., car rider: 3:10 p.m., bus riders: 3:15 p.m.
Urban High Schools: Opelousas High, MACA, Eunice High
Drop off at 7 a.m. or at the discretion of the principal
Start time: 7:30 a.m., shuttle bus: 2:33 p.m., General Dismissal: 2:40 p.m., car rider: 2:40 p.m., bus riders: 2:45 p.m.
Urban Elem/ Middle Schools and Urban Junior High Schools: Northeast Elementary, North Elementary, South St. Elementary, Southwest Elementary, Grolee Elementary, Park Vista Elementary, Opelousas Junior High School, Central Middle, East Elementary, Highland Elementary, Eunice Elementary, Glendale Elementary, and Eunice Junior High School
Drop off at 7:30 a.m. or at the discretion of the principal
Start time: 8:10 a.m., car rider: 3:15 p.m.,bus riders: 3:20 p.m.