Mailbag: Joan Sorteberg writes: On Cheaper Transporation Options for Half-Day

(Ed. note. The Families for 5K Choice have inquried of Ringhand Bus and sought less expensive transportation options for the half-day 5K students. In the Janesville Gazette article recently, only the $16,000 for transportation was cited as the reason for the administration seeking to discontinue half day.)

Dear Mrs. Carvin and School Board Members,
A cost associated with the half day kindergarten program is transportation from school to home at the end of the half day program. In the previous two years, approximately 10 children were provided with bus transportation using a full size 72 person capacity bus. This year, 5 children are provided with bus transportation; 4 children are transported using a full size 72 person capacity bus and one child is transported using a wheelchair accessible van.

Transportation options for the half day kindergarten students are available. Options are available through the current school bus transportation provider, Ringhand’s. Other options may be through parent contract or other local provider arrangements may be pursued.

Ringhand’s has in addition to the full size bus, an adapted full size bus that has been fitted with a lift and space for a wheelchair. For the class this year, if the adapted full size bus was used, it would eliminate the need for the wheelchair accessible van and the driver for the van.

In addition, Ringhand’s also has a wheelchair accessible van that has a bench seat in addition to the lift and space for a wheelchair. This van would not accommodate all five children this year, however a combination of this wheelchair accessible van and parent contract for two children may be a possibility. Ringhand’s indicated to me that booster seats would be needed for the children on the bench seat and also expressed concern regarding who would buckle up all the kids (some children are able to buckle themselves in a booster seat). Booster seats would also need to be obtained.

Also, Ringhand’s has a 15 passenger van. The van would need to have booster seats for each child. Ringhand’s has expressed concern regarding buckling up all the children (some children are able to buckle themselves in a booster seat). Booster seats would also need to be obtained and separate wheelchair transportation would need to be provided for the one child who requires this.

Christy Christens contacted Merry Larsen at the Department of Public Instruction in the School Management Services area and learned that although a school district is required to provide transportation, a parent contract is an option. I am not aware of the details of a parent contract, however, believe this option should be investigated as a possibility.

Other community options should also be explored. It has been brought to my attention that the Prime Timer’s van may be an option. There may also be other community options that I am not yet aware of.

It is my recommendation to have a group explore and make recommendations for half day kindergarten transportation for the remainder of this year, and for consideration in future years. I would be willing to be a member of such a group, I am currently a parent of a child who uses bus transportation from the half day kindergarten program. I also recommend the following participants in the transportation group: a member of the district office, Ringhand’s, a school board member representative, Head Start, and a community provider such as Prime Timer‘s if they are interested, and other interested family members. Julie Ringhand has indicated to me she is willing to participate in such a group.

Thank you for your attention to this request, I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Joan Sorteberg
882-4773