THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9501310119
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Increasing opposition to the way Norfolk public schools schedules morning bus runs may lead to relief for parents of some elementary school kids.
The problem is this: As a way to reduce bus costs, officials stagger the times schools open, beginning with the high schools and ending with elementary schools. With more time between school openings, fewer buses are needed.
But as a result, some elementary students don't start classes until 9:30 a.m. or later. And the school day doesn't end for them until nearly 4 p.m.
That, critics say, is an inconvenience for children, parents and teachers.
After parents pleaded for help at last week's School Board meeting, Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said a revised busing plan was under review.
``We think we might have come up with some strategies,'' Nichols said.
Still, it wouldn't solve the problem for everybody: At most, Nichols said, about nine of the 14 schools now on the ``late stagger'' would be able to begin classes earlier.
Last week, Cheryl Chambers, president of Larchmont PTA and the mother of a fourth-grader, encouraged the board to buy more buses so that children could begin classes at least by 9 a.m., preferably by 8:30. Now, because of the late start, children who attend Larchmont and Taylor must cross Hampton Boulevard during the dangerous afternoon rush-hour traffic from the Norfolk Naval Base, she said.
Alex L. Urrutia, of the Ocean View Elementary PTA, also was concerned. Urrutia said many parents now have to pay for both before- and after-school care. In addition, many children who are dropped off early by their parents must wait up to two hours before classes begin.
Kids that age are most alert earlier in the morning and begin to drag during the last school period, which doesn't end until nearly 4 p.m., he said.
``It's really a detriment to the children,'' Urrutia said. ``It's time to shelve the system and come up with something else.''
Board members with children in the system have experienced similar problems and urged Nichols to find a solution.
``I continue to hear more about that,'' member Joe Waldo said at a School Board retreat a day after the meeting. ``I think the community is growing in numbers as far as the concern on that.''
Waldo asked Nichols to present the board with a plan to reduce the problem, including options and costs. He suggested the possibility of contracting with a private vendor to transport kids for transportation if the price was right.
``I've been griping about it for four years,'' said member Anita Poston. ``We ought to figure out how to reschedule to get all kids in school by 9 a.m.''
``We can,'' Nichols said, ``but it'll cost more money.''
High school students are picked up first and begin classes at 7:15 a.m. School officials estimate the district saves $700,000 a year under the existing schedule.
Nichols said it would take an additional 10 to 12 buses to eliminate the fourth stagger. At $40,000 a bus, they would cost more than $400,000. Maintenance expenses also would have to be factored in, he said.
Nichols said he expected to have a proposal ready for the board's review no later than March. by CNB