27 August 2024
A new bus routing and GPS system installed this year has been causing headaches for Stillwater Area Public Schools.
“Over the past several days, we have uncovered issues within our student-information system that are resulting in inaccurate bus routes, missing routes and a variety of other challenges for hundreds of our families,” Superintendent Mike Funk wrote in a letter to parents on Monday night.
Students in the district have a staggered start. Sixth- and ninth-graders started on Monday; students in grades 7-8 and 10-12 were scheduled to start on Tuesday, but a power outage caused cancellation at the high school. Elementary students start Sept. 3.
The transition to the new bus system has been “challenging,” Funk said Tuesday. “There were significant issues arising from data inaccuracies and system-compatibility problems.”
District staff are doing everything possible to ensure that all routes and schedules are accurate, Funk added.
“We regret the frustration and inconvenience this has caused our families as we begin a new school year,” he said. “We are committed to addressing these larger systemic issues by conducting a thorough review of our student information system, ensuring accurate data, and implementing stronger processes. Moving forward, we will prioritize compatibility and effectiveness in our systems to better serve our students, families, and staff. Bottom line: The community is right to expect more.”
Families that have not yet received bus-route information or who have discovered an error in their information are asked to log on to the district’s Parent Portal page and verify that the home address information, any alternate bus addresses and busing request details are up to date. Anyone needing help can email [email protected].
The district has faced numerous bus issues over the past few years. The school board in 2021 sued its previous transportation provider after they said it provided late and inconsistent service, instituted frequent route changes and stranded students. Citing a nationwide bus driver shortage, caused in part by extended school closures during the coronavirus pandemic that pushed many drivers into retirement or other jobs, the bus company, Metropolitan Transportation Network, also stopped offering rides to some 1,500 students who lived within two miles of school.
After two years of inconsistent bus service, the district in 2022 signed a contract with a new bus company, Schmitty & Sons, that was fully staffed a week before classes start, officials said.
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